Ex-CFO of Philadelphia archdiocese admits embezzling $900K

The former chief financial officer of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia has pleaded guilty to embezzling more than $900,000, the Associated Press reports.

Anita Guzzardi, 42, of suburban Haddon Heights, N.J., pleaded guilty Friday to charges of theft by deception, forgery and unlawful use of a computer for stealing the money between 2005 and 2011. She became the CFO last July 1, was put on administrative leave two weeks later and fired the week after that, the archdiocese said in a March statement after Guzzardi surrendered.

Prosecutors recovered about $250,000, AP says. The archdiocese said insurance would cover most of the rest of the loss.

Guzzardi grew up in South Philadelphia, attended Catholic schools and had worked for the archdiocese since 1989. [more]

SOURCE

USA Today