New York Woman Charged in Alleged Theft From Subaru Employer

Carol Grabbe

By Alicia Cruz
The Black Urban Times

The Rockland County District Attorney's Office announced the indictment of a Chestnut Ridge, New York woman on grand larceny charges involving her employer, the Bill Kolb Jr., Subaru car dealership in Orangeburg.

According to a press release, 48-year-old Carol Grabbe of Sergio Court was indicted on two counts of second-degree grand larceny, one count each of third-degree grand larceny, criminal tax fraud, fourth-degree tax fraud and first-degree offering false instrument, said Xiomara Lopez, Confidential Assistant to the District Attorney.

Prosecutors say as a controller at the Subaru dealership, Grabbe possessed control over the all of the dealership’s finances and financial records. Her theft was uncovered by a forensic accountant following an audit after the dealership was notified by Subaru of America that it was delinquent more than two million dollars in payments.

According to the indictment, between January 2005 and February 2009, Grabbe, using daily cash deposits, stole more than $800,000 from the dealership. Additionally, it is alleged that the defendant stole another $8,866 by receiving double pay through manual company checks, payroll checks and direct deposits between 2007 and 2009. The tax fraud charge came as a result of Grabbe allegedly failing to report her income to the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance for the tax years of 2007 through 2009.

Grabbe's arraignment is pending. If convicted, she faces up to fifteen years in prison. The investigation into the embezzlement was conducted by the Rockland County Special Investigations Unit and the Orangetown Police Department.