Pocono News Section

Former WVSA Billing Clerk Sentenced for Stealing

Former WVSA Billing Clerk Sentenced for Stealing - Monday, November 23, 2009 at 5:20PM EST

Reported by: Andy Mehalshick
Monday, Nov 23, 2009 @ 05:20pm EST
WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY -- A Luzerne County woman learned her fate for stealing thousands of dollars in taxpayer money.

Karen Holly admits she embezzled money while working at the Wyoming Valley Sanitary Authority. Holly came to federal court in Wilkes-Barre Monday to learn her fate for stealing more than $6,000 from the Wyoming Valley Sanitary Authority.

She was a bill collector and admitted that she took money, paid by customers, and kept it for personal use. The authority discovered more than $6,000 missing in February. Holly, when approached, admitted to taking the cash.

She cried as she told the judge, "I had personal and financial problems. I used it to pay bills. I thought I could pay it back. Judge, I'm truly sorry for what I've done."

The judge told Holly that she violated a most sacred trust and that she should have known better because she worked as a district justice in Luzerne County.

She was sentenced to 30 days of confinement in a halfway house, two years probation and must serve 100 hours of community service. Her lawyer says his client made a mistake and owned up to it.

The Sanitary Authority issued a statement saying they did contact state police in a timely manner after they learned the money was missing.

Holly did pay the cash back. In August, the authority said they were not going to press charges so as not to ruin Holly's life. That raised some questions as to their actions. Today we were told they did contact state police and were told to keep it quiet so as not to jeopardize the investigation.

She could have received up to 6 months in prison, but under sentencing guidelines, she was eligible for confinement to a halfway house and probation.