GREEDY LEASING FIRM EMPLOYEE STEALS OVER $200K

Kasandra Hayes will Serve 5 Years and Pay Back $150-Thousand to C.L.A.S.S., Inc.

By the time Ann Bell, owner of The Leasing Workshop and C.L.A.S.S. (Certified Leasing and Sales Specialists), Incorporated discovered Controller Kasandra Hayes was stealing money from the firms, the businesses were almost in ruins. By February 25, 2004 when the defendant was fired, she had stolen in excess of $200-thousand over a four year period.

The Fulton County District Attorney's White Collar Crime Unit secured its second major conviction in as many days Friday, May 9th, with the guilty plea of 40-year-old Kasandra Hayes of Duluth, Georgia. The defendant pleaded guilty to 158 counts of theft by taking by fiduciary. Superior Court Judge Craig Schwall imposed a 30 year sentence with 5 to serve in prison. Hayes was ordered to pay $150-thousand in restitution and obtain a $100-thousand life insurance policy on her own life naming the victim as beneficiary. The defendant may not hold a position of trust unless she discloses her conviction and sentence to the prospective employer and she was ordered to have no contact with the victim.

During her victim impact statement, Ms. Bell told the court that even as she and her husband took out a $70-thousand home equity line of credit to shore up the businesses, her controller continued to steal. When the company paid all employees a $3000 bonus one year, the defendant helped herself to a second bonus of $3000. The defendant also availed herself of the $5000 gift Ms. Bell gave to employees towards the purchase of a home-all the while, continuing to embezzle money.

The White Collar Crimes Unit team of Brad Malkin, Senior Assistant District Attorney and Senior Investigator Joe Thurman, gathered the evidence for the successful prosecution of this case. Scott Long of the DA's Victim-Witness Assistance Program provided services to the victim, her family and other witnesses. District Attorney Howard says, "The gall of this defendant is mind-blowing. As controller, she knew the harm she was causing her employer-who went without a salary for six months. She didn't care. But she will have time to reflect on her actions for the next five years in prison."

CONTACT: Lyn Vaughn, 404.730.6860 (office); 770.597.6963 (cell); lyn.vaughn@co.fulton.ga.us