Hearing delayed for accused embezzler
NORRISTOWN » A preliminary hearing has been delayed for a Berks County woman who is accused of embezzling more than $900,000 from the East Norriton Township company for which she worked as director of human resources.
Christine Marie Cushman, 31, of the 700 block of Rosewood Drive, Amity Township, faces a preliminary hearing at 10:30 a.m. Sept. 19 before District Court Judge Ester J. Casillo on charges of theft by unlawful taking or disposition, identity theft and receiving stolen property in connection with incidents that occurred between August 2015 and June 2017 while she worked at Highpoint Solutions LLC in East Norriton.
Cushman’s preliminary hearing originally had been scheduled for Aug. 22. Court records do not indicate the reason for the delay.
Cushman, who was arrested Aug. 2, remains free on $10,000 unsecured bail while awaiting court action. The case is being prosecuted by Montgomery County Assistant District Attorney Christopher Daniels.
With the charges, prosecutors alleged Cushman Christine M. Cushman East Norriton detectives to report that the business’s payroll company uncovered suspicious direct deposit transactions that were made to Cushman’s personal bank account.
The subsequent investigation determined that Cushman allegedly issued fraudulent payroll checks in the names of four former subcontractors who no longer did business with Highpoint Solutions and then directly deposited them in her personal bank account, according to court papers.
Cushman’s responsibilities included preparing and reviewing the payroll information before it was submitted to the outside payroll company, authorities alleged.
The 45 fraudulent transactions occurred between August 2015 and June 2017, authorities alleged.
Cushman, according to the criminal complaint, also took steps to conceal the fraudulent transactions.
Officials said Cushman was employed by Highpoint Solutions since July 16, 2007. Cushman left the company for a brief period of time but returned on July 14, 2014.
When company officials confronted Cushman about the alleged thefts she initially denied the conduct. However, later in text messages, Cushman offered to return $56,000 which she had in the bank and promised to come up with a plan for repaying the remaining balance, according to the criminal complaint filed by East Norriton Detective Anthony Caso.
During the investigation, detectives obtained warrants to search Cushman’s bank account. Detectives alleged banking records revealed that after the fraudulent deposits were made to Cushman’s account they were quickly utilized, “quite often transferred to other accounts, used to pay personal debts both electronically and by check,” according to the criminal complaint.