Crisis center employee allegedly misuses $77K [Pioneer Press, St. Paul, Minn.]

Nov. 30--Just before Christmas last year, Tubman officials noticed that someone had been spending an awful lot of money with company credit cards, but not on anything for the social service organization's crisis centers.

A little digging pointed to an employee in accounts receivable, who appeared to be buying items ranging from storage sheds to school lunches on the company dime.

In all, more than $75,000 had been spent over three years.

Catherine Mary Anton, 43, of Lake Elmo, has been charged in Washington County District Court with one felony count of theft by swindle. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $100,000 fine.

Anton was fired from her job shortly after Tubman officials discovered the discrepancies.

She could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

Tubman CEO Beverly Dusso said Monday it's unclear if the organization will ever recoup the losses, and that restitution will be up to the court.

"It's all very unfortunate. And we feel we responded the way we should have," Dusso said. "We're here to take care of women, children and families, and we have to do what we can to protect those we serve....I would say anytime something like this happens, it's very sad."

Minneapolis-based Tubman, formerly known as Tubman Family Alliance, is a nonprofit that provides shelter, counseling and legal services for families dealing with domestic violence, chemical abuse or mental health issues.

A routine audit of Tubman financials

in December revealed potentially fraudulent purchases that were traced to Anton, according to a criminal complaint filed Tuesday.

Tubman officials contacted sheriff's investigators and said they believed Anton was using corporate credit cards from Sam's Club, Home Depot, SuperAmerica and U.S. Bank to buy items for personal use.

A tally of unauthorized purchases showed more than $8,000 had been spent at Home Depot, $1,200 at SuperAmerica, $10,000 on a U.S. Bank Visa and more than $57,000 at Sam's Club.

In an interview with investigators, Anton "admitted to some of the purchases, but maintained that some of the purchased items were designated for shelter use," the complaint stated.

Tubman's chief financial officer told investigators that Anton had no authority to buy items for shelters and anything bought for that purpose would have to be pre-approved by Tubman's shelter manager, the complaint said.

According to court documents, Anton is believed to have purchased gift cards, gas, iPods, a home gym set, a television, a Chimnea wood-burning fireplace, lumber and home improvement supplies, computers, a trampoline, a backyard play set, a 7-by-7-foot storage shed, a gas grill, a vacuum, NASCAR ornaments, two "pocketbike" miniature motorcycles and more.

Most of the items were located at Anton's home during a search in February.

The Tubman credit cards were also used to pay for cable, cell phone and insurance bills, as well as school lunches, which Tubman officials said were not accounts connected to the organization or any of its shelters, the complaint said.

"(Anton) initially reported that she had purchased several boxes of diapers and cleaning supplies because times were tough and she was just trying to make ends meet," the complaint said. "(She) stated she was disappointed that outside people had to be brought into the situation and that she wanted to reimburse (Tubman) for the unauthorized expenditures."

The unauthorized purchases come to a total of $77,294.33, according to the complaint.

Elizabeth Mohr can be reached at 651-228-5162. Follow her at twitter.com/LizMohr.

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