By: Najla Alexander
Authorities in Ocean County announced that on October 11, Dona Carlo-Tanzola, 51, of Manahawkin, was sentenced by the Honorable Kimarie Rahill, J.S.C., to five years in New Jersey State Prison.
County officials said that in connection with her previously entered guilty plea to Theft in connection with her former employment as an administrative assistant with the engineering firm Horn, Tyson & Yoder, Inc., Judge Rahill also ordered Carlo-Tanzola to pay restitution in the amount of $139,698.56.
Carlo-Tanzola pled guilty to the charge before Judge Rahill on July 1, 2024, Ocean County officials said.
An investigation by the Long Beach Township Police Department revealed that between May 2022 and November 2022, Carlo-Tanzola, through her employment with Horn, Tyson & Yoder, took checks made payable to the business and deposited them into her personal bank accounts for her own personal benefit, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer.
Ocean County officials stated that in an attempt to cover up her theft, Carlo-Tanzola edited the business’s financial records by deleting paid invoices in client accounts despite the firm having received payments for services rendered.
In total, Carlo-Tanzola diverted dozens of checks totaling $178,774.35. After being confronted with the theft, Carlo-Tanzola made partial restitution, County officials say.
According to officials, on January 9, 2023, Carlo-Tanzola was arrested by Officers from the Long Beach Township Police Department without incident.
She was processed and served with the charges via summons pending future appearances in Ocean County Superior Court, authorities said.