Wilton woman charged with embezzlement

Posted on December 16, 2017

by William Hiltz

The FraudBuster Files

Police say Wilton woman made partial repayment to former employer
Thursday, March 24, 2016

Debra Obenhoff, 44, a Wilton woman was accused of stealing almost a million dollars from the medical company she managed tried to pay back a small amount of it in 2015, Colonie Police said.

A Wilton woman accused of stealing $871,728 from the medical company she managed paid back some of it in 2015, Colonie police said.

Debra Obenhoff, 44, of Andover Avenue turned herself in after being charged with grand larceny in the theft from Northeast Urogynecology, Pelvic Medicine, and Reconstructive Surgery of Colonie.

For three years, Obenhoff is charged with writing checks to her business, making electronic payments to her credit card, giving herself a bonus and paying for unauthorized health care insurance.

The activity is alleged to occurred between September 2008 and December 2011. Problems were discovered in 2011 when Obenhoff’s replacement checked the records.

The theft wasn’t reported to State Police until 2015, and Colonie police began their investigation March 15.

Lt. Bob Winn did not say why there was a gap between the company discovering the theft and reporting it to police. He said Obenhoff paid back around $77,000 in a personal check to the company in August.

Obenhoff worked both from Colonie and from her home in Wilton in the years the crimes were committed, Winn said.

According to her LinkedIn site, Obenhoff is the owner of home care provider Home Helpers and Direct Link.

Obenhoff turned herself in Wednesday and was arraigned and charged with grand larceny. She was released under the supervision of Albany County Probation.

Her case was referred to the Albany County District Attorney’s office to schedule her next court appearance.