Washington, D.C. – A Maryland woman, Haphen Chitsa, was arraigned today on an indictment charging her with conspiracy, interstate transportation of embezzled checks, and theft, announced U.S. Attorney Jeffrey A. Taylor and Jeffrey W. Irvine, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service’s Washington Field Office. Chitsa, 39, of Clarksburg, Maryland, also faces forfeiture of the approximate $195,000 in money alleged to have been stolen. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Chief Judge Royce C. Lamberth and is set for trial beginning September 22, 2008.

According to the indictment, Chitsa worked in the accounting department at a local moving and storage company between April 2006 and July 2007, and through her job, had access to the company’s computer system. Chitsa created a new account under the name of an existing vendor. The indictment further alleged that Chitsa tricked the moving company’s computer into issuing duplicate checks as if to pay for invoices, which had already been paid. In less than three months’ time, Chitsa and her co-conspirator gained over $195,800 from the scheme. According to the indictment, Chitsa took the fraudulently generated checks across state lines to the State of Maryland where the co-conspirator deposited the checks into a bank account and thereafter withdrew cash for Chitsa and used money for herself.

If convicted of all counts at trial, Chitsa could face about 27 - 33 months in prison under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed a violation of criminal laws. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless found guilty.

In announcing the indictment, U.S. Attorney Taylor and 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.