The case of a Blairsville woman who is accused of stealing more than half a million dollars from her employer is headed to federal court.
Indiana County District Attorney Bob Manzi announced yesterday that the case against Sandra Doak was moved to federal court after the state court prosecution was withdrawn.
She is charged with theft, theft by deception by preventing the acquisition of information, receiving stolen property, forgery, unauthorized access of someone else’s device and tampering with records for allegedly stealing money from the medical practice of Dr. Matthew Klain, which includes three physicians working out of offices in Burrell and White Township.
State police say Doak printed out checks to herself, transferred money to her own accounts and even spent $25,000 on the company’s credit card. She allegedly used the money for vacations, sports and concert tickets, and payment of her own personal debt. This included $14,000 for a trip to Disney World. The thefts date back to 2013, but charges were filed in 2020.
Manzi said that the state court had jurisdiction over theft charges, but federal court would be able to prosecute Doak on additional charges of tax evasion and mail fraud, which could result in a longer period of incarceration if found guilty. He added that the federal court would also be able to seek some restitution that the state court would not be permitted to.
No word yet on when she will come up for trial in federal court.
Comments