John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MIRIAM DUBAY, 66, of Purcellville, Virginia, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to 33 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for embezzling more than $326,000 from her Connecticut employer.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Dubay, who formerly resided in Shelton, was the bookkeeper for a small, family-owned business in Shelton. Dubay was the only accounting person for the business, and she had access to the company’s bank accounts, check stock, accounting books and records, and petty cash. She also was responsible for depositing business checks and cash payments from customers into the company’s bank account.
From at least as early as April 2010 and continuing through October 2016, Dubay engaged in a scheme to defraud her employer by writing checks on company check stock made out to “cash” and either forging the signature on the checks by hand or by using a fraudulently obtained signature stamp. Dubay either deposited the checks into her personal bank account or cashed the checks at the bank where her employer maintained its business account. Dubay forged 168 separate checks totaling $239,851.68.
As part of this embezzlement scheme, Dubay also stole 103 customer cash payments, totaling $86,279, instead of depositing the cash into the business’s bank account.
Judge Underhill ordered Dubay to make full restitution to her victim employer.
On June 26, 2018, Dubay pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud.
Dubay, who is released on a $20,000 bond, was ordered to report to prison on January 16, 2019.
This matter was investigated by the Shelton Police Department, the U.S. Secret Service and the Connecticut Financial Crimes Task Force. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Susan L. Wines.
