A Brightwaters woman has been sentenced to three to six years in state prison after admitting she stole more than $230,000 from her employer over several years while also fraudulently collecting unemployment benefits, Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney announced Tuesday.
Christa Ramos, 57, pleaded guilty on April 1 to one count of Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, three counts of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, and three counts of Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree.
According to court documents and Ramos’ admissions during her guilty plea, she worked as the office manager for a Deer Park business between December 2018 and June 2023. Prosecutors said she was responsible for paying the company’s bills and used that position to write herself unauthorized checks totaling approximately $230,398. She then deposited the money into her personal bank account and spent it on personal expenses.
Authorities also said Ramos falsely claimed she was unemployed while working full-time, allowing her to collect more than $40,000 in unemployment insurance benefits. Because she handled the company’s mail as office manager, prosecutors said she was able to conceal the fraudulent claims from her employer.
“Stealing from a small business is an attack on our local economy and the communities these businesses support,” Tierney said. “My office will continue to ensure that those who exploit small businesses for personal gain are held responsible.”
On June 30, Suffolk County Supreme Court Justice Richard Ambro sentenced Ramos to three to six years in prison and ordered her to pay more than $230,000 in restitution.
The case was investigated by the Suffolk County Police Department’s Financial Crimes Unit and prosecuted by the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office Financial Crimes Bureau.
Photo: SCDA
