RAMAPO DRUG COMPANY SWINDLED IN $17,000 EMPLOYEE CREDIT CARD THEFT

Rockland County District Attorney Thomas P. Zugibe today announced that Anne Hess (DOB 10/02/56) of 31 Fort Putnam Street, Highland Falls, New York has been arrested and arraigned for stealing more than $17,000 from her Ramapo employer via credit card fraud.

Hess is charged with: • One count of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, a class “D” Felony

Between November, 2007 and August, 2009, Hess, while employed as a purchasing agent for BioSource Pharmacy of Spring Valley, stole $17,600.29 by using a company credit card to pay personal expenses without permission. The defendant made fraudulent payments to a variety of firms, including Verizon Wireless, Direct TV, Orange & Rockland Utilities and Progressive auto insurance.

When confronted about the theft by her superiors, Hess admitted to using the corporate credit card for personal use. The defendant had been employed by BioSource Pharmacy for five years.

The defendant was arraigned in the Village of Spring Valley Justice Court on December 30th, 2009 by the Honorable David Fried. She was released on her own recognizance.

Hess is due to return to court on February 3rd, 2010.

If convicted, the defendant faces 2 1/3 to 7 years in prison.

The arrest resulted from an investigation conducted by the Rockland County Special Investigations Unit.

She faces five to fifteen years in state prison.

The arrest of the defendant resulted from an investigation conducted by the Rockland County Special Investigations Unit and the Rockland County Computer Crime Unit.