Rockland County Bookkeeper Arrested Over Stolen Funds
Rockland County District Attorney Thomas E. Walsh II announced today the arraignment of a bookkeeper for a Rockland County Arborist who is alleged to have used her position to steal funds from her employer following an investigation by the Rockland County District Attorney’s Office Special Investigations Unit.
argarita Guina, 48, of Nanuet, NY and bookkeeper for Rockland Tree Experts/Wickes Arborists, was indicted on thirty-one counts by a Rockland County Grand Jury. The defendant was indicted on one count of Grand Larceny in the Second Degree (PL 155.40(1)), 15 counts of Forgery in the Second Degree (PL 170.10(1)) and 15 counts of Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree (PL 170.25)).
Margarita Guina, was employed as the bookkeeper for Rockland Tree Experts/Wickes Arborists from 2016 to 2020. She was responsible for all the accounts receivable, accounts payable, and payroll. The defendant, on sixty occasions used the businesses payroll account to make Zelle (mobile payment service) payments that were transferred directly to her own bank account. Furthermore, she used the businesses bank account to pay for her Orange and Rockland Utilities and Optimum cable bills. In total, Guina is alleged to have stolen $83,078.59 from the company.
“Small businesses are vital to our economy and community. After the difficult two years we have experienced with the Covid-19 pandemic, they are under more pressure than ever. I would like to thank the Detectives of the Rockland County District Attorney’s Office Special Investigations Unit for their investigative work on this case.” said District Attorney Tom Walsh.
Guina was arraigned in Rockland County Court yesterday by the Honorable Judge Larry J. Schwartz. The defendant was released on her own recognizance and is due back in court on February 8, 2022. The case is being prosecuted by Executive Assistant District Attorney Tina Guccione and Senior Assistant District Attorney Nicole Garcia.
It should be noted that a criminal complaint is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
