Livingston County man blames gambling addiction for $300K embezzlement
Aug. 23, 2012
Ralph Edward Staelgraeve
Written by Lisa Roose-Church
DAILY PRESS & ARGUS
A Conway Township man blamed his gambling addiction for his embezzling nearly $300,000 from a Wisconsin-based company.
Ralph Edward Staelgraeve, the former director of Michigan operations for Pasta Per Trio Inc., apologized this morning prior to learning that a Livingston County Circuit Court judge would follow a plea deal and sentence Staelgraeve to five years probation, with the first year spent in the county jail.
“I’m truly sorry,” the 46-year-old man said. “I was wrong. I have a gambling addiction.”
Judge Michael P. Hatty also ordered Staelgraeve to pay $297,429 in restitution.
Staelgraeve earlier pleaded guilty as charged to embezzling $100,000 or more from the Wisconsin-based company.
Authorities alleged Staelgraeve spent the stolen money on personal purchases, including spending nearly $300,000 at the MGM Grand Detroit casino.
Authorities alleged Staelgraeve submitted fraudulent expense claims to “cover” up the embezzling.
The prosecutor’s office initially charged a second man with embezzling, alleging he helped Staelgraeve hide this theft.
However, those charges were later dropped against the co-defendant when a review of the case showed Staelgraeve added statements into the e-mails that gave the impression the co-defendant was complicit in the embezzling.
Prosecutor David Morse said the second man was innocent.
http://www.livingstondaily.com/article/20120823/NEWS06/120823016/Livingston-County-man-blames-gambling-addiction-300K-embezzlement
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