Stephen Monsanto, a high-ranking Internal Revenue Bureau official, was charged Tuesday with embezzling $195,883 from the IRB.
Monsanto, 40, is also charged with forgery, obtaining money by false pretense and conspiracy, according to the Daily News. Monsanto, who is special assistant to IRB Director Joseph Aubain, is charged with stealing money in two ways: intercepting and cashing checks that were intended for vendors, and creating false invoices and later cashing the checks issued to pay those invoices, according to Assistant Attorney General Douglas Sprotte.
Monsanto was hired by the IRB in January 1995. His annual salary is $53,000, the Daily News reported. No one at the IRB has commented. WVWI reported that Aubain is off-island at a conference.
Monsanto has been released on $40,000 bail.