NEW JERSEY — Stacy Margaritondo, 52, of Scotch Plains, has pleaded guilty to embezzling more than $350,000 from a local synagogue over several years, federal authorities announced.
Margaritondo entered her plea before U.S. District Judge Susan D. Wigenton in Newark federal court to one count of wire fraud. Her sentencing is scheduled for July 22, 2025.
According to court records and statements made during the hearing, Margaritondo began her employment with the synagogue in 2010 and was promoted to office manager and bookkeeper in July 2020. Between December 2019 and May 2023, she used her access to the synagogue’s financial records and her authority over accounting functions to misappropriate approximately $350,000 from the organization’s accounts.
As part of the scheme, Margaritondo issued unauthorized checks payable to herself and used the synagogue’s name and financial documents to fraudulently secure short-term loans from at least three cash advance companies. Prosecutors stated that she also altered bank statements and maintained inaccurate records to prevent synagogue leadership from detecting the embezzlement.
The wire fraud charge carries a maximum potential sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000, or twice the gross gain or loss resulting from the offense.
The investigation was conducted by special agents of the FBI’s Newark Division, with assistance from the Scotch Plains Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shontae D. Gray of the Economic Crimes Unit in Newark.
