Former St. Vincent de Paul Director Pleads Not Guilty to $108K Embezzlement
Trisha Hebert, 38, faces three felony counts over alleged misuse of nonprofit funds in Marshfield, Wis. She stood mute in court, prompting a not guilty plea.
Not Guilty Plea Entered Against Ex-Charity Director in Marshfield Embezzlement Case
Trisha Hebert, 38, the former outreach director at St. Vincent de Paul in Marshfield, Wisconsin, stood mute to three felony charges Wednesday morning, prompting the judge to enter a not guilty plea on her behalf, wsaw.com reports. She also waived her preliminary hearing, where a judge would have determined whether sufficient evidence existed to proceed to trial.
Hebert faces charges of theft in a business setting and fraud. Investigators allege she mismanaged more than $108,000 in nonprofit funds.
The investigation opened in August 2024 after concerns arose over an unusual number of ATM cash withdrawals from the organization's accounts. Investigators reviewed banking records spanning November 2022 through September 2024. They noted that Hebert lost access to the accounts in July 2024 — around the same time the withdrawals ceased.
Court documents indicate the suspected activity involved the nonprofit's medical clinic account and its outreach center account. An internal auditor identified 32 cash withdrawals between June 8, 2023, and July 5, 2024, totaling $44,251.
Investigators also examined spending at Kwik Trip locations, where the organization's card was allegedly used to purchase fuel, gift cards, cigarettes and lottery tickets. At least $96 was spent fueling a company vehicle, according to court documents. Kwik Trip provided surveillance footage that investigators said showed ATM withdrawals at an in-store machine.
During interviews with investigators, Hebert said cash had been used for gas cards, taxi fares and, at times, rental assistance. She acknowledged that the organization's debit cards were also used for business-related expenses such as cleaning supplies and remodeling projects. She added that she occasionally used the cards at clothing and retail stores to purchase items for Toys for Tots when she found good deals.
Hebert further told investigators that many of the withdrawals funded mortgage assistance for clients. Detectives contacted alleged recipients and found that paperwork for six listed applicants had been fabricated — including one individual investigators believe was entirely fictitious. Others had requested assistance but were identified as previous clients.
Court documents cite gambling as a possible motive, noting the withdrawals frequently coincided with days Hebert visited casinos.
Hebert has denied embezzling funds. She told investigators she had been too busy to maintain accurate records and wished she had been more organized. She described the case as "a nonprofit wrongfully accusing someone" and said she is writing a book about her experience.
She is scheduled to return to court on October 22 and remains free on a $25,000 cash bond.
Source: Google News VC — Crime