Stephanie L. Roberts, a former executive director of a Gastonia-based non-profit organization for cancer patients, has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for embezzling thousands of dollars from the charity. The announcement was made by Lawrence J. Cameron, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
In addition to her prison sentence, Roberts is required to serve two years under court supervision and pay $157,722.69 in restitution to the affected non-profit and $62,612 to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
The sentencing follows Roberts' guilty plea on March 22, 2024, to charges including theft in connection with health care, failure to account for and pay over trust fund taxes, and making a false tax return.
Acting U.S. Attorney Cameron emphasized the gravity of Roberts' actions: “Roberts treated a nonprofit organization meant to support cancer patients as her personal piggy bank, stealing funds intended to help those in need of resources and services during a health crisis. Roberts will now be held accountable for her reprehensible actions.”
According to court records and proceedings, Roberts served as the executive director of Cancer Services of Gaston County from January 8, 2016, through January 21, 2022. During this period, she embezzled more than $136,000 from the organization. Furthermore, she admitted to not paying over $200,000 withheld from employees' paychecks for federal income tax purposes.
Roberts also filed U.S. Income Tax Returns that falsely reported the amount of tax withheld from her wages and falsely claimed these amounts were paid to the IRS.
The case was investigated by multiple agencies including the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), and Gastonia Police Department. Acting Inspector in Charge Jason Krizmanich and Chief Trent Conard collaborated with Acting U.S. Attorney Cameron on this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael E. Savage prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
Roberts is expected to report to a designated federal facility upon instruction from the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
