Marcia Joseph, 57, of Baldwin, New York, pleaded guilty to wire fraud at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn. She admitted to embezzling approximately $2.3 million from her employer, a non-profit organization that provides employment and education services. Joseph was arrested in October 2023 and appeared before United States District Judge Eric N. Vitaliano. She faces up to 20 years in prison when sentenced.
United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Breon Peace, FBI New York Field Office Assistant Director-in-Charge James Smith, and New York City Department of Investigation Commissioner Jocelyn E. Strauber announced the guilty plea.
United States Attorney Peace remarked on Joseph’s failure to fulfill her responsibilities at the non-profit, highlighting the impact of her actions on vulnerable community members. Commissioner Strauber condemned the defendant’s creation of a fake company, Prestige Business Services, to divert $2.3 million from the City-funded non-profit for personal gain.
The complaint, court filings, and details presented during the plea hearing revealed that Joseph, as the senior fiscal officer of Company-1, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in Brooklyn, New York, set up Prestige under the guise of providing services to other companies. However, Prestige was a front for Joseph’s embezzlement over 16 years. She used funds from Company-1 for personal expenses, including mortgage payments, credit card bills, car payments, Amazon purchases, home remodeling, spa treatments, landscaping, luxury goods, cash withdrawals, and payments to friends and family.
The prosecution is being handled by the Public Integrity Section of the Office, with Assistant United States Attorney Eric Silverberg leading the case, assisted by Paralegal Specialists Elizabeth Reed and Melissa Bennett.
