Springfield administrator pleads guilty to embezzling funds from non-profit organization
Alexandria, Virginia – A Springfield woman, Jennifer Giorffino, 53, pled guilty to wire fraud this week in U.S. District Court after admitting to embezzling over $250,000 from her employer, a non-profit organization dedicated to accounting for prisoners of war. The organization relies on public donations to support its mission. The details of Giorffino’s scheme, which involved both unauthorized charges and fraudulent credit accounts, highlight a significant breach of trust within the organization and a sophisticated pattern of theft that ultimately drained the organization’s resources.
Background and Embezzlement Scheme
Jennifer Giorffino worked as an administrator for the organization, tasked with managing financial operations, including processing donor checks and paying bills. Her role granted her and the organization’s Chairman exclusive access to the organization’s bank accounts. Court records show that Giorffino began exploiting her access to funds in October 2022. She made unauthorized personal purchases with debit cards tied to the organization’s accounts, buying items through Amazon and other retailers and funneling funds into her husband’s bank account.
Her purchases weren’t limited to retail items but extended to services through PayPal and subscriptions for companies like Walmart, PlayStation, DoorDash, Instacart, BarkBox, and Stitch Fix. These unauthorized charges were made without the knowledge or approval of the organization’s Chairman or Board.
Extensive Credit Fraud Using Chairman’s Identity
In addition to unauthorized purchases, Giorffino escalated her fraudulent activities by misusing the identity of the organization’s Chairman. Beginning in October 2023, she applied for at least 30 credit cards and lines of credit under the Chairman’s name, using those funds for additional personal purchases. These credit applications were with various retailers, including Lane Bryant, Kohls, TJ Maxx, LL Bean, B&H Photo, and Mission Lane.
Giorffino made significant purchases with these credit accounts, one of which alone amounted to $36,278.29. She paid off these credit cards monthly using the organization’s funds until April 2024, covering her tracks while depleting resources meant for the organization. Court documents reveal that she checked the Chairman’s credit 37 times between October 2023 and April 2024 to monitor creditworthiness, using this information to continue applying for additional loans and credit.
Manipulating Donations and Forging Financial Records
In a final effort to capitalize on her scheme, Giorffino opened a checking account in the organization’s name in February 2024, linking it to the organization’s online donation platform. This allowed her to divert incoming donations directly into the fraudulently opened account. She funneled $29,746.67 in donations and redirected 121 donor checks, totaling $13,844.59, from the organization’s official address to a private mailbox under her control.
By March 2024, the organization’s legitimate accounts were largely drained, and Giorffino resorted to forging bank statements and issuing checks that she knew would bounce due to insufficient funds. In an attempt to deceive the organization’s Board, she presented falsified financial records at an April 2024 board meeting, suggesting that the organization’s accounts held approximately $206,000 when the actual balance was only $10,000.
The full extent of Giorffino’s misappropriation amounted to roughly $257,259, impacting the organization’s ability to fulfill its mission and manage daily operations. The fraud was uncovered when the Chairman’s credit card was unexpectedly declined due to Giorffino’s excessive charges, prompting a closer inspection of the organization’s finances.
Legal Proceedings and Potential Sentence
Following her guilty plea, Giorffino now awaits sentencing, scheduled for March 6, 2025. Wire fraud, a federal crime, carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. However, federal sentences are typically less than the maximum, with the exact sentence determined by a judge after reviewing the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other legal considerations.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth R. Simon Jr., and the investigation involved collaboration among federal agencies. U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber for the Eastern District of Virginia, David E. Geist, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office’s Criminal and Cyber Division, and Damon E. Wood, Inspector in Charge of the Washington Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, announced the plea acceptance by U.S. District Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles.
