Another Victim of Predators: Gambling Addict Embezzles $262K

Convicted tax collector to update court on repayment plan

RICHMOND — The former tax collector who bilked the Richmond-Carolina Fire District out of more than $262,000 to support her gambling addiction will appear in Providence County Superior Court Feb. 2 for an update on her repayment schedule. The update was rescheduled from Tuesday.

Jerilyn J. Majeika of South Kingstown pleaded no no contest in July 2009 to unlawful appropriation over $1,000, in exchange for the state dismissing another charge of forgery and counterfeiting. She was sentenced to 10 years of probation and ordered to pay restitution.

Majeika admitted to taking $262,514.55 over an 18-month period, starting in September 2004, and forging a signature of a member of the fire district’s board of directors on a $9,000 check.

The missing money affected 2004 and 2005 tax collections, and an approximate $25,000 federal grant for the installation of an emergency generator in December 2005, the state police said at the time of Majeika’s arrest.

The fire district’s board of directors fired Majeika in July 2006 after they found that she had opened an unauthorized bank account in her name to channel the money. They launched an internal investigation and fired Majeika the next day. Majeika had worked as the district’s tax collector since 1999. She made $13,500 a year in her elected position, the only paid position in the volunteer fire district. Shortly after, they hired new tax collector Jennifer Berke.

In 2006, Majeika had repaid $180,000 and had planned to make full restitution by the end of September 2006 by refinancing her South Kingstown home. But Tuesday, according to the court clerk, Majeika had an outstanding balance of $30,000. Her last payment was $2,500, on Oct. 27.

Brad Philbrick, chairman of the fire district’s board of directors, said that an insurance policy covered $50,000 of the stolen funds, leaving Majeika responsible for the remaining $30,000. He said the district received its first reimbursement check last month.