Newark, NJ — Teresina DeAlmeida, 59, of Warren, New Jersey, and Rose Martins, 44, of East Hanover, New Jersey, pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy on Friday. Silvia Cardoso, 61, of Warren, New Jersey, pleaded guilty to the same charge on July 25. The three former employees of Seton Hall University graduate school admitted to defrauding the institution of more than $1.3 million.
The guilty pleas were entered before U.S. District Judge Julien Xavier Neals in Newark federal court. DeAlmeida, a former assistant dean, and Martins, her assistant, used various fraudulent methods, including false invoices, unauthorized transactions, and the creation of shell companies, to misappropriate funds from the school. Cardoso, DeAlmeida’s sister, was also involved in the scheme.
From 2009 to 2022, the defendants conspired to misappropriate the funds through several deceptive practices:
- DeAlmeida directed a school vendor to pay Martins and Cardoso as though they worked for the vendor, despite not performing any services. They then caused the vendor to submit false invoices to the school for reimbursement.
- DeAlmeida and Martins directed vendors to order gift cards and prepaid debit cards for personal use, submitting fraudulent invoices to the school. They also used DeAlmeida’s school-issued credit card for unauthorized purchases.
- Martins opened a shell company, CMS Content Management Specialist LLC, to submit and approve fraudulent invoices totaling more than $208,000.
- The conspirators used DeAlmeida’s school-issued credit card for over $70,000 in unauthorized personal purchases, including women’s shoes, smartwatches, and bed linens.
U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger emphasized the seriousness of the defendants’ actions, stating that they exploited their positions at the institution for personal gain. Special Agent in Charge Jenifer L. Piovesan of the IRS Criminal Investigation, Newark Field Office, reiterated the commitment to investigating financial crimes. FBI Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy and Acting Special Agent in Charge Andrew Balceniuk of the U.S. Department of Education Office of Inspector General also commented on the successful investigation.
The wire fraud conspiracy charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine up to $250,000 or twice the gain or loss from the offense. Sentencing for Cardoso is scheduled for November 26, DeAlmeida for December 2, and Martins for December 3.
4o
