A New Jersey woman has admitted to stealing millions of dollars from her trucking firm employer while acting as a book-keeper, officials said.
Jeanette Avellan, 62, pled guilty to second-degree theft of movable goods, third-degree failure to pay income taxes, and third-degree filing a fraudulent tax return, according to a statement released by New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin on April 14.
Avellan agreed to plead guilty in exchange for a suggested four-year term in state prison. She has also agreed to pay $4.03 million in restitution to her victims and $559,919 to the New Jersey Division of Taxation in outstanding taxes, penalties, and interest for tax years 2019, 2020, and 2021.
According to officials, Avellan began working as a book-keeper for the South Brunswick, New Jersey-based transportation company West End Express Co. in 2005.
Avellan acknowledged to stealing nearly $4 million from West End Express Co. between January 2017 and January 2023, and used the money to gamble. Furthermore, officials claim that she did not record the money she stole on her tax filings, filed inaccurate forms, and failed to pay taxes.
“This defendant admitted to systematically stealing millions of dollars from her employer while in a position of financial trust,” the attorney general stated. “She will now face serious consequences for her crimes. My office will always find those who would abuse their positions of trust to take what isn’t theirs.”
“Employers need to know that the people they hire to handle sensitive financial duties can be trusted to do their jobs honestly and professionally,” Division of Criminal Justice Director Theresa L. Hilton stated. “Unfortunately, in this case, the defendant’s gambling habit led her to steal from her employer and then try to hide her theft by filing fraudulent tax returns.”
Avellan is due to be sentenced on May 9, 2025.
