Sentencing postponed until Sept. for embezzler of $13 million

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

A woman who carried out the largest embezzlement scheme ever uncovered in this part of the state was supposed to be sentenced Friday, but in an unusual move the sentencing has been pushed back until September because the U.S. attorney says it has received new information about her.

U.S. District Judge Nora Barry Fischer signed an order Friday saying Cynthia Mills, 56, who embezzled $13 million from Matthews International, will now be sentenced Sept. 28.

Last-minute motions to postpone sentencings are not uncommon from the defense, but rare from federal prosecutors.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Shardul Desai said in his motion that the government this week received information about Ms. Mills that will affect her sentence but that prosecutors need more time to review it. The information is not specified and the U.S. Attorney’s office does not comment on pending cases.

Ms. Mills’ lawyer, Phillip DiLucente, also declined to discuss the new information.

“All I can tell you at this juncture is that this was a very complicated and complex case that [Mr. Desai] and myself wanted to get right before sentencing in front of Judge Fischer,” he said. “I consented accordingly to the government’s motion for postponement.”

Ms. Mills admitted that she stole the money over a 16-year period while working at Matthews, and her plea agreement calls for a 7½-year sentence.

Mr. DiLucente has said she committed the crime in part because of a gambling addiction.

Her estranged husband, Gary Mills, is also under indictment on federal tax charges in connection with the scheme.

His case is pending.