Woman Sentenced for Embezzling from Newton Company

A Natick woman was sentenced in federal court last week for embezzling money from a Newton-based video production company. 

Irina Cholodenko, 45, pleaded guilty on Friday to charges of bank fraud, according to a press release from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Cholodenko was sentenced to 27 months in prison and ordered to pay restitution. 

According to the press release, Cholodenko worked as a controller and vice president at the video production company, which was not named in the press release. Between 2005-2010, Cholodenko forged her employer's signature on company checks and initiated electronic fund transfers totaling more than $197,000. 

Cholodenko deposited some of the embezzled funds into her personal bank account and used some of the money to pay her credit card bills, the press release said.

The case was investigated by the FBI. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sandra S. Bower of United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz’s Economic Crimes Unit.