BRONX MAN IS ARRESTED AND CHARGED WITH EMBEZZLEMENT

Bronx District Attorney Robert T. Johnson announced today that a 35 year-old former administrative assistant, has been arrested and charged with allegedly embezzling approximately $74,000 from his employer, Argus Community Incorporated.

Keir Jeffers, of 614 St. Nicholas Avenue, Manhattan, has been charged with 1 count of Criminal possession of stolen property in the 2nd degree, 1 count of Grand larceny in the 2nd degree, both class "C" felony offenses, and 1 count of Falsifying business records in the 1st degree, a class "E" felony offense. If convicted of the most serious charges, Jeffers would be facing a term of up to 15 years imprisonment. Jeffers was released on his own recognizance and ordered to return to court on Wednesday, January 12, 2005, in Part A.

It is alleged that Jeffers, who had complete control of the payroll system, embezzled a total of $73,677.48 between August 2003 and January 2004. The scheme began to unravel when Jeffers allegedly gave himself a $5,000 retro-active pay increase, which triggered an internal investigation. Argus Community Incorporated hired J. H. Cohn Accountants and Consultants to conduct an audit. Auditors discovered that Jeffers had misappropriated payroll funds by manipulating the direct deposit payroll data. Jeffers would allegedly issue checks in his name and the names of current and former employees, and use two different personal Citi bank accounts.

Mr. Johnson thanked Richard Weiss of Argus Community Incorporated and representatives from J.H. Cohn, for their help with this case. Mr. Johnson also acknowledged the hard work of Bronx Detective investigator Joseph Iodice and David Lasky of the Investigations Bureau.

Assistant District Attorney Kiran Vashishta of the Arson / Economic Crime Bureau is prosecuting this case.