Suspect: Female, age 63, employed for over 25 years at the facility
An auto dealership, through their accountant reviewing a new computer tracking system called and reported they were suspecting a possible theft, identified by manual manipulation of the accounting process and over inflated accounts were identified. The bookkeeper was unable to explain the changes she had made and she was suspected in the theft, however, the scheme had not been identified, nor had the accounts involved. The employer was concerned the bookkeeper would terminate her employment and take the secrets with her.
That afternoon, Aldo Fantoni interviewed the bookkeeper using the limited information available. She initially confessed to stealing approximately $12,000 within the past two years. Every indication led him to believe the theft was much larger. The bookkeeper was suspended and the investigation continued, working closely with the employer's legal representative, who used the information obtained to prepare a civil cause against the bookkeeper, which was filed the following Monday morning. The civil action caused the court to prohibit the bookkeeper from transferring any assets or accessing her personal accounts until a hearing could be scheduled.
Within a week, the book keeper was re-interviewed, using additional information obtained from the initial interview, documents were identified and the bookkeeper amended her initial statement to include other schemes utilized in the theft of company funds. The new admissions revealed the loss was now in excess of $200,000.
Public Agency
Suspect: Female, age 35, with a few years employment with the agency.
A public agency discovered cancelled vouchers used for assisting needy families in the community had been improperly used by the former employee for personal gain. The agency found two questioned vouchers totaling less than $300. After a review, Aldo Fantoni discovered several hundred questionable vouchers totaling almost $30,000. The suspect, who had been terminated prior to the investigation, was interviewed and admitted to several thousand dollars in theft from the agency. She disclosed the schemes used, the lack of internal controls which allowed it to occur, all of which was supported by the evidence obtained.
Graphic Design Firm
Suspects: Five day shift employees
The management team of the company met fraud investigators and described a problem reconciling their inventory. Their orders were plagued with shortages and their inventory was out of control. Management exercised little oversight of the manufacturing process done on site. Management also revealed that the production supervisor hired several of his friends on the production floor. The receiving and inventory clerk was a close relative of the production supervisor.
Investigation and interviews confirmed the production supervisor and a close circle of co-workers and subordinates were involved in the theft of the inventory, both raw and finished. All were terminated. Their confessions prohibited them from filing a workers compensation claim, a claim of wrongful discharge or applying for unemployment benefits.
Private Hospital
Suspects: Employees in several departments throughout the hospital.
The client suspected two staff employees in the administrative offices and one or more employees in housekeeping may be involved with illegal drug use. The preliminary investigation involved the review of personnel files, performance evaluations and interviews with supervisors. The information gathered led to the structured interviews of employees. Aldo Fantoni obtained some of the detailed statements from these employees regarding their drug use, theft of drugs from patients, diversions and involvement with several other employees.
Nurses in the emergency room and other areas of the hospital, maintenance staff, security and lab technicians were stealing drugs from the pharmacy, diverting drugs prescribed to patients and from the sharps disposal containers. Several members were also involved in distributing the stolen drugs to other employees.
All ten employees provided detailed written and recorded statements about their drug use and theft of drugs.
Freight Company
Suspects: Terminal supervisors and personnel
The client called and had a recent theft of pharmaceutical products being shipped that passed through one of their terminals with a high incident of theft. The U S Drug Enforcement Agency and others were aware of the ongoing problem and were attempting to work on solving it. The terminal had an annual $2,000,000 contract in jeopardy due to their inability to keep the product secure and have it reach its final destination. The loss of this contract would have led to the loss of others.
Aldo Fantoni immediately responded to the location and conducted interviews of employees. Four dockworkers were identified, interviewed and all gave detailed statements in how they actively identified products shipped through the terminal using a co-conspirator at the manufacturer and the company's own computer systems to remove the unmarked boxes from the shipments, smuggling them from of the terminals and distribute the controlled narcotics in the community. The employees also identified drivers and other workers involved in drug abuse, theft, time card fraud and other company violations.
