Washington, D.C. – A 39-year-old Maryland woman, Haphen Chitsa, has pleaded guilty to stealing close to $200,000 from her former employer in 2007, U.S. Attorney Jeffrey A. Taylor and Jeffrey W. Irvine, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service’s Washington Field Office, announced today.

Chitsa, 39, of Clarksburg, Maryland, entered her guilty plea earlier today before U.S. District Chief Judge Royce C. Lamberth to the charge of First Degree Theft. Sentencing is scheduled for October 24, 2008. Chitsa faces a possible sentence of probation to seven years of incarceration.

According to the statement of offense signed by the defendant, from April 2006 to July 2007, Chitsa worked in the accounting department at a local moving and storage company, located in the District of Columbia. It was Chitsa’s job to manage accounts payable, including, handling invoices, paying vendors, and creating checks. As such, she had access to the computer system.

In or about April 2007, Chitsa created a new account under the name of an existing vendor. Thereafter, she used legitimate invoices to trick the accounting system to generate duplicate checks as if to pay for the invoices, which had already been paid. During this period of time, Chitsa generated nine checks, totaling $195,862.73. A co-conspirator opened a bank account at a Maryland bank using the vendor’s business name. None of the co-conspirators had the authority to open such a bank account. From about April 12, 2007 to June 22, 2007, Chitsa generated nine fraudulent checks, written on the account of the storage company. A co-conspirator deposited these checks in the Maryland bank account, withdrew cash, and returned some of it to Chitsa.

In announcing the guilty plea, U.S. Attorney Taylor and U.S. Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Irvine commended Special Agent Eric A. Traceski and noted the assistance of MPD Detective Richard N. Espinosa. In addition, they commended Paralegal Specialist Diane Hayes, Legal Assistant April Peeler, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Virginia Cheatham, who is prosecuting the case.