PITTSBURGH,None — The former controller of a western Pennsylvania Acura dealership stole an unspecified amount of money through fraudulent record keeping and bank transfers and used the money to buy four homes, 10 vehicles, stocks and dozens of pieces of gold, jewels and furniture for herself and relatives, federal prosecutors charge.
Patricia K. Smith, who formerly worked at Baierl (BAY'-erl) Acura in Wexford, did not immediately return a call Wednesday, nor did her attorney, Tina Miller, a former prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney's Office in Pittsburgh, which is bringing the wire fraud charges.
A spokeswoman said prosecutors can't comment on how much Smith allegedly stole, or any other details of the case, until the Cranberry Township woman appears in court Jan. 10. Online court records show Smith has agreed to waive indictment by a federal grand jury and is scheduled to either plead guilty or no contest to the charges on that date.
But the seven-page criminal information charging her, and a 13-page attachment listing items the government intends to seize because they were allegedly bought with the stolen money, detail items worth far more than $1 million.
Baierl officials issued a statement saying Smith "stole a significant amount of money" and that "a portion of the loss has already been recovered," without specifying either amount.
"We understand she is cooperating with the Criminal Division of the U.S. Attorney's Office in Pittsburgh on this matter and will plead guilty," the statement said, adding that the financial loss will have "no impact" on the dealership's operations.
Court documents show the thefts allegedly began in December 2004 and were finally discovered July 28. The charges contend Smith, "using her position as Controller and her online access to Baierl's bank accounts, transferred funds electronically from Baierl's operating bank account to Baierl's payroll bank account."
Smith then electronically transferred money from the payroll account to her personal bank account and covered up those transfers by fudging bank and car inventory records, which she allegedly provided to accountants that audited the dealership's books, the documents show.
The forfeiture document shows Smith used the money to purchase, or make payments on, her residence in Cranberry Township and another nearby home jointly owned by two relatives who are identified only by their initials. The other homes to be forfeited included one in Columbus, Ga., and another in Pittsburgh. The Pittsburgh house is owned by Smith and a man who is named in property records, but who is not being identified by The Associated Press because he has not been charged and because his relationship to Smith is unclear.
Online property records show the Pittsburgh home has a market value of $100,000, and the Georgia home is worth $251,000. Smith's residence and the other house in Cranberry are appraised at $43,000 and $45,500, respectively, however a Butler County real estate tax office official said that county levies taxes based upon property values from the year 1969. The current property values are believed to be several times that much.
The government also wants to forfeit 10 vehicles, including a 2011 Honda Crosstour registered to Smith, and nine others owned by relatives, including a Cadillac, four Acuras, and a Honda motorcycle. All but the motorcycle are 2009 models or later.
The furniture and other items to be seized include dozens of items, mostly from Smith's residence and the other nearby, including flat-screen TVs, a baby grand piano, sterling silver place settings, a mink coat, a Faberge crystal vase and an antique grandfather clock.
The government also is targeting more than $170,000 worth of stock, nearly $21,000 in a personal checking account and about $32,000 in prepaid travel funds to Delta and United airlines, along with dozens of pieces of jewelry appraised at a total of $54,000. Dozens of other pieces of jewelry have yet to be appraised, along with 15 rare U.S. $20 gold coins and 10 gold bullion Canadian coins, according to the forfeiture petition.
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