Gambling Addiction Lands Former Urban League Accountant in Prison

Manivone Phimmahon, age 42, of Branch Avenue, Cumberland, was sentenced Friday by Superior Court Justice Jeffrey A. Lanphear to 23 years, with one year to serve at the ACI, followed by two years on home confinement and the remainder suspended with probation for embezzling approximately $250,000 from her employer, the Urban League.  In addition, the defendant was ordered to pay restitution in full.  As a condition of her sentence, the defendant is not allowed to enter gaming facilities and must be evaluated for gambling addiction. The defendant was remanded to the ACI immediately after sentencing.

Had the case proceeded to trial the State was prepared to prove that between June 1, 2006 and January 31, 2011, the defendant, who worked in the finance department at the Urban League, embezzled $251,617.37 from the non-profit organization.  In her position as an accountant, she was responsible for accounts receivable and payable. The defendant established several unauthorized vendor accounts, wrote checks to those vendors and converted the money for personal use.  On other occasions, she forged the signature on checks of former Urban League President Dennis Langley.
 
“As a nonprofit organization, the Urban League operated on a shoe string budget and has long suffered from severe financial troubles, which is what makes the actions by the defendant so deplorable,” said Attorney General Kilmartin.  “The defendant took advantage of the trust given her to mind the books while others minded the community.  She saw the lax oversight as her opportunity to rip off the organization for years.”
 
The investigation was led by Providence Police Sergeant William Dwyer and Detective Sean Maxwell and Special Assistant Attorney General Carole L. McLaughlin prosecuted the case on behalf the Office of Attorney General.

---

More WBOB News

• Gardiner: The Wrath of Khen
  
• Rhode Island Gov. General Election 2014: A Consideration
  
• Obama: Remembering September 11th -- 13 Years Later
  
• Irish Prime Minister to Visit Rhode Island