Former head of autism charity LI sentenced to 33 months in federal embezzlement case

The former head of a Long Island autism charity will spend 33 months in federal prison after embezzling nearly $1 million from a nonprofit to pay for Broadway tickets, cosmetic surgery and a down payment on her home.

Wafa Abboud, 55, was sentenced in Brooklyn Federal Court on Wednesday after a jury found her guilty of embezzlement, bank fraud and money laundering in 2019.

From January 2011 to May 2016, Abboud served as the Executive Director of Human First, Inc., with offices in New York and Long Island, providing social services to children and young people with autism.

Despite a passionate statement in which she maintained her innocence, said her life was ruined, and spoke of her devotion to others, Judge Edward Korman ruled that she should serve time in custody and gave her the same sentence as the co-defendant who pleaded guilty. in the schema.

“I have lost everything. I lost friends, community, dignity, reputation and job,” she said. “I didn’t get a chance to talk about who I am and what I’ve done for people.”

According to her, Abboud founded Human First in 2001 and turned it into a $22 million agency. “This turn of character is not who I am,” she argued. “I didn’t do it. It’s just a misunderstanding.”

Korman said he considers Abboud’s good deeds and volunteer work throughout his life, and that she still supports her youngest child, a son, as he graduates from high school.

However, he says he considers a prison sentence appropriate because of the nature of the crime and as a general deterrent to others.

“One of the problems with a case like this is that I can’t ask you why you did it,” Korman said. “The jury found you guilty. I accept their verdict. I must pass judgment on the assumption that the judgment was correct.”

Assistant U.S. Attorney Turner Buford said Abboud embezzled money for years despite earning a six-figure salary as chief executive.

“It was a crime committed by choice,” he said.

Wafa Abboud, former executive director of Human First, exits a federal courthouse in Brooklyn during an embezzlement trial on Wednesday, June 26, 2019.

Abboud colluded with consultant Marcel Bailey and paid her company $16,000 a month in fees for years, prosecutors found in a two-week trial. Bailey, a “substantial portion” of this money was transferred back to accounts controlled by Abboud, and she used the money for money transfers, cosmetic surgeries, a trip to Disneyland, tickets to the Broadway show “The News” and visits to luxury spas and high prices. – end beauty salons.

Bailey pleaded guilty in 2017 and was sentenced to 33 months in 2021.

In another scam, Abboud approved inflated construction bills from Rami Taha’s accomplice. She then asked him to return the money to her, using the money for a down payment on her $1.3 million home in Merrick and for renovations to the nine-bedroom residence.

Taha pleaded guilty to embezzlement in 2019 and is awaiting sentencing.

Abboud also gave herself a $479,000 annual salary without notifying the charity’s board of directors, prosecutors said.

Abboud is due to turn herself in on September 29, enough time to see her son finish high school.

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