Former Exec Admits To Stealing $1.3M From Toll Global Forwarding Through Invoice Scam

TRENTON, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- The former director of finance for a Middlesex County-based integrated logistic services company has admitted stealing more than $1.3 million from the firm through an elaborate false invoicing scheme, federal prosecutors said.

Karen Sipes, 40, of Brick, pleaded guilty Tuesday in federal court to wire fraud for her theft from Toll Global Forwarding, a multi-national company based in Carteret. Sipes faces up to 20 years in prison when she's sentenced July 29 and also will have to pay restitution.

As part of her guilty plea, she is required to pay restitution of the full $1.3 million.

Sipes was responsible for entering vendor transactions and invoices into TGF's accounts payable accounting system and paying those vendors by preparing checks from TGF.

Sipes identified vendors with a high number of transactions and invoices, then created and entered fake transactions and invoices for them, preparing checks payable to herself, proseuctors said.

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