ELGIN WOMAN GETS EIGHT YEARS FOR STEALING MORE THAN $130,000 FROM FORMER EMPLOYER

WHEATON – DuPage County State’s Attorney Joe Birkett announced today that 37 year-old Karen Albergo, (d.o.b. 2/15/1971) formerly of 1069 Summit St. Elgin, was sentenced to eight years in the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) for stealing more than $130,000 from her former employer, Dr. Daniel O’Carroll & Associates, LLC in Glen Ellyn.  The thefts took place over more than a two-year period.  Albergo is currently serving a four year sentence in IDOC after being pleading guilty to Forgery in Lee County in 2007.

             Today’s sentence stems from allegations that between March 2005 and July 2007, Albergo, who worked as a manager at the clinic, wrote herself more than 250 checks for personal use from the company’s bank account.  In addition, Albergo also wrote company checks to pay for vacations and her living expenses such as rent and utilities.  In all, Albergo wrote unauthorized company checks for her own personal use totaling $132,876.08.  Albergo’s scheme was uncovered by Dr. O’Carroll who contacted the Glen Ellyn Police Department who in turn launched an investigation into the matter.  On March 31, 2008, Albergo entered a blind plea of guilty to one count of Theft Over $100,000, a Class 1 Felony, in front of Judge Robert Anderson.

             “Karen Albergo is a serial thief, plain and simple,” remarked Birkett.  “For more than two years she systematically stole from her employer.  She lined her pockets at the expense of others who had trusted her.  Her greed not only caused great hardship to her former employer, but it also cost her eight years of her life.”

             Today’s sentence will be served concurrent to the sentence Albergo received on the Lee County charges.  In addition to her sentence, Albergo was also ordered to pay $132,876.08 in restitution. 

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