Former Jericho Road employee sentenced for theft of funds related to a government program

BUFFALO, N.Y.-U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Dejan Karlovic, 30, of Amherst, NY, who was convicted of theft of funds related to a government program, was sentenced to serve three months in prison by U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. In addition, he was ordered to pay restitution totaling $584,884.99, and forfeit a BMW, a pickup truck, and more than $240,000 in cash and financial accounts.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles M. Kruly, who handled the case, stated that between January and March 1, 2024, Jericho Road, which operates the Jericho Road Community Health Center, received more than $10,000 in federal grants and funding. Karlovic was employed by Jericho Road as a Senior Grants Accountant, and in that role acted as a liaison between the program and finance side of Jericho Road, with access to several Jericho Road commercial credit cards and other financial accounts. Between March 1 and June 26, 2024, Karlovic stole or intentionally converted funds belonging to Jericho Road totaling $584,884.99, by submitting fake invoices to Jericho Road from a company called “D and D” and making them appear as expenses related to moving and relocation, which is one service Jericho Road provides to its clients. Karlovic then paid these fraudulent invoices using a Jericho Road commercial credit card.

The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Philip Tejera.