Monday, April 25, 2016

Property Manager At 180-Unit Building Gets Pinched For Allegedly Pilfering Over $80K In Rent Collections From Landlord

In Dudley, Massachusetts, the Worcester Telegram & Gazette reports:
  • An employee of a large subsidized housing apartment complex allegedly fueled her addiction to prescription pain medications by collecting rent from tenants, depositing their checks and money into a petty-cash account, and writing 176 checks to herself totaling $81,130.

    She covered up the months-long scheme at Brookside Terrace by creating false monthly bank statements, police said in their request for a warrant, which was granted this week by William F. George, first assistant clerk magistrate of Dudley District Court.

    Christine D. Bogdahn, 51, [...] will face charges of larceny valued at more than $250 and making false entries in corporate books.

    An arraignment has yet to be scheduled. Mr. George found probable cause to issue a complaint Tuesday.

    Newton-based Meredith Management Corp. operates the 180-unit Brookside Terrace, and its Chief Financial Officer Jonathan S. Hickok and director of leasing Jerry A. Belair reported Mrs. Bogdahn to police on March 28, according to a police report.

    Mr. Hickok said that Mrs. Bogdahn, the senior site property manager, had been fired March 25. He cited nonperformance of her job duties. He said Mrs. Bogdahn’s performance and behavior had drastically changed in the last nine months, and it was assumed she was addicted to drugs, the report said.

    Mr. Hickock said that the company cleaned her desk and found overdraft notifications from the company’s petty cash account.

    He said they also found foreclosure paperwork for her home, and a pending bankruptcy. Mr. Hickok said her annual salary with the company was about $76,000, and she is married with two children.