Crime & Safety
Berlin Woman Pleads Guilty To Embezzling $84K From Plainville Company
Former employee accepts plea to one felony count of second-degree larceny.
By Justin Muszynski, The Bristol Press
April 29, 2022
A Berlin woman has pleaded guilty to embezzling about $84,000 from a Plainville company where she previously worked.
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Denise Miranda, 56, took a plea bargain on Wednesday in New Britain Superior Court. She was required under the terms of the deal to plead guilty to one felony count of second-degree larceny.
This felony charge was reduced from a first-degree larceny offense.
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Miranda, who is free on $25,000 bond, has yet to face sentencing. She is due back in court on June 14.
According to the arrest warrant, Miranda was hired at Independent Materials Testing Laboratory, on North Washington Street, in February 2017 and put in charge of the company’s payroll. At that time, her last name was Palmese, the warrant said.
In July 2018, the owner of the lab noticed that the balance of the bank account for the company was negative.
He then found several checks made payable to Denise Palmese, totaling $17,000, the warrant continued.
Police later found the total amount misappropriated was $84,844.
Miranda told investigators that she and the owner of Independent Materials Testing Laboratory had an agreement under which he gave her extra money for some financial problems she was having, police wrote in the warrant. The owner denied this.
Investigators also spoke to Miranda’s husband, Wilkins Miranda, during the investigation, and he told them that he had been issued several checks from Independent Materials Testing Laboratory for work he was contracted to do from home, the warrant said. The company owner also denied this, according to police.
Wilkins Miranda, 46, has also been charged. Judicial records on Thursday indicated he is enrolled in a diversionary program – which could result in a dismissal of his case – that is expected to last until August 2023. Wilkins Miranda has been charged with one count of making a false statement.
Justin Muszynski can be reached at 860-973-1809 or jmuszynski@bristolpress.com.
