Donna Rizzo, 40, a dental office manager in Plainville, Connecticut, was sentenced to three years in prison for embezzling more than $200,000 from the practice of dentist Thomas Peltzer over approximately eighteen months.
Rizzo used the stolen funds to lavish gifts and experiences on her then-boyfriend, Joseph Rizzo, whom she had met through the dental office and later married. The fraud came to light when a co-worker questioned how someone at Rizzo's salary level could afford such an elaborate wedding. Defense counsel acknowledged at sentencing that her motivation was a desire to impress her partner rather than personal financial need.
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Related reading: Why does it take YEARS for someone who embezzles to go to jail?
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