Do you perhaps remember the story of Margo Reed? Earlier this year the 54-year-old Yonkers woman impressed us with her embezzling ingenuity when she managed to bump up her $43,323 Yonkers Public Library salary by stealing $163,582 in overdue book fines over seven years. And now she is going to jail for her crime.
Though Reed—whose lawyer explains away the theft as being due to a gambling addiction—was facing up to 15 years behind bars yesterday she was sentenced to just six months in the Westchester County Jail and five years of probation. In addition, she will also have to make full restitution for the amount of the theft—which will probably take some time!
Reed was only caught when a new business manager hired by the library (which collects about $400,000 in fines a year) noticed that something was fishy with the paperwork being turned in by Reed. A closer examination led to the discovery of the theft and her prompt arrest.
Reed's lawyer told the Times that, "It was a very appropriate sentence. It’s quite apparent my client was remorseful and contrite with respect to admitting her conduct."
