Mohan Jitlal is accused of writing checks and depositing them into an account in his and his wife’s name
MINEOLA, N.Y. – Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas announced that a Queens man was arrested yesterday for allegedly stealing more than $144,000 from his employer, an insurance brokerage in Nassau County, by writing checks and depositing them into an account in his and his wife’s name.
Mohan Jitlal, 37, was arraigned yesterday before District Court Judge Darlene Harris on charges of Grand Larceny in the Second Degree (a C felony) and eight counts of Falsifying Business Records in the First Degree (an E felony). The defendant was conditionally released to probation and ordered to surrender his passport. He is due back in court on September 25. If convicted, the defendant faces a maximum of five to 15 years in prison.
“This defendant allegedly stole more than $144,000 from his employer and used the money to pay off gambling debts and other personal expenses,” DA Singas said. “Would-be embezzlers should know that their crimes leave a paper trail that investigators can follow, and when caught, they will face serious criminal consequences.”
DA Singas said on June 27, 2016, an executive at an insurance brokerage, located in Woodbury, received a phone call from a fraud investigator at Capital One Bank, regarding a check drawn on the insurance company’s payable account to a “Janet B” for $3,925.49. The check appeared suspicious to the investigator because the payee was unknown to the company. The company then began an internal investigation which revealed a total of 29 checks, totaling $144,245.75, were allegedly misappropriated by the defendant from July 2012 to June 2016. Some of the checks were made out to his wife, who was not involved with the misappropriation of the money. Part of the defendant’s job duties as a senior analyst at the brokerage included requesting and paying disbursements to insurance carriers.
The defendant, who had no authorization to request those checks, would then allegedly deposit them into Capital One and TD Bank accounts in Nassau County and Queens. He then withdrew money from an ATM and used it to pay gambling debts as well as other expenses including restaurants, retail shopping and a monthly gym membership.
The defendant was fired from his position at the company on June 28, 2016 and the NCDA received the complaint on December 7, 2016.
Senior Investigative Counsel Mary Ruddy of DA Singas’ Government & Consumer Frauds Bureau is prosecuting this case. Jitlal is represented by Lori Golombek, Esq.
The charges are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless found guilty.