Woman Sentenced in $400 K Theft From Doctors

PRESS RELEASE
April 29, 2011
For Immediate Release
Contact: Bernie Weisenfeld- PIO
Phone: (856) 384-5617; Pager (856) 251-4736
Re.: Woman sentenced in $400K theft from doctors

Roselie Hernandez (DOB 4/1/66) of 125 Alliance St., Woodbury Heights NJ was sentenced today (4/29) to five years in New Jersey state prison for stealing more than $400,000 from a Woodbury medical practice between 2002 and 2009 while she was its bookkeeper.

Hernandez came to court with a cashier’s check for $80,000 that she was prepared to turn over to the doctors of Nephrology Associates as restitution in hopes of avoiding prison. A provision of her Dec. 13, 2010 negotiated guilty plea would have allowed her to receive probation and an order for full restitution if she produced $100,000 at sentencing. Sentencing was originally to be in March but was postponed, in part for medical reasons. Hernandez was charged Dec. 7, 2009.

In court today, Superior Court Judge Walter L. Marshall Jr., noting the substantial size of the theft, said the “specific agreement” Hernandez had agreed to would be enforced, as the victims wished. “You negotiated a deal and you have not lived up to it,” the judge said. In sending her to prison, he also ordered $400,000 in restitution.

While Hernandez’ lawyer said “blood, sweat and tears” went into the raising of funds for the check his client carried, Assistant Prosecutor Vincent Malfitano said the medical practice’s physicians worked many extra hours to make up for their financial loss, had felt a breach of trust in Hernandez, yet were willing to continue the medical treatment of her husband.