United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release

NEW BRITAIN WOMAN PLEADS GUILTY TO MAKING AND POSSESSING FORGED SECURITIES

Kevin J. O'Connor, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that THERESA MORRIS, age 39, of New Britain, Connecticut pleaded guilty today to a one count Information charging her with making and possessing forged securities. Senior United States District Judge Ellen Bree Burns accepted MORRIS' plea of guilty this morning in New Haven federal court.

U.S. Attorney O'Connor explained that, according to documents filed in open court today, MORRIS was employed by CitiFinancial, an affiliate of Citigroup, as a Senior Customer Service Representative. She worked in CitiFinancial's Newington, Connecticut office from about May 1999 to July 2002, and in its Southington, Connecticut office from about July 2002 to December 2002.

From about March 2001 to November 2002, Morris misappropriated over $108,000 in funds from CitiFinancial. While she carried out the scheme in various ways, the execution of the scheme invariably included Morris' forging of checks written on CitiFinancial accounts and depositing them into a bank account that she controlled. In all, MORRIS forged 112 checks totaling $108,703.69.

MORRIS faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a fine of up to $250,000 when she is sentenced on April 2, 2004. As part of the plea agreement, MORRIS is required to make full restitution of $108,703.69.

This matter is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Eric J. Glover.

CONTACT:

U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
Tom Carson
(203) 821-3722
thomas.carson@usdoj.gov