WESTFIELD – In January, a Longmeadow woman will answer charges in Westfield District Court that she embezzled more than $50,000 over a six year period when she worked for two medical practices in the city.
Det. Brian Freeman reports, in a document filed in Westfield District Court in support of criminal complaints, that a city pediatrician discovered in September that deposit slips for her practice were missing.
When the doctor investigated she found that the deposits to the practice’s bank account were less than the receipts received by the practice.
The complainant told Freeman that only one employee handled the deposits for her practice and noted that her husband is also a physician and the same woman worked in the same capacity for his practice.
An investigation showed that $6,834.34 had not been deposited in the pediatrician’s account and, since 2007, deposits to husband’s practice were $44,955.10 less than the receipts received.
Freeman reports that when the employee in question, Lori Hardaker, 41, of 36 Converse St., Longmeadow, was questioned by her employer she confessed that she had taken the money.
After the matter was referred to Freeman, the woman was questioned by police in an interview which was recorded on video and repeated her confession.
Hardaker was arraigned on Tuesday before Judge Philip A. Contant for two charges of larceny of property valued more than $250 by a single scheme and was released on her personal recognizance pending a pretrial hearing Jan. 8, 2013.
