Crime & Safety
Passaic Co. Paralegal Stole $700K In Estate Funds From Beneficiaries: Police
Police say that while working for a law firm, the woman wrote herself $700K in checks from estate funds, which were meant for beneficiaries.
RINGWOOD, NJ — Officials charged a Ringwood woman with stealing $700,000 in estate funds while she was working at a law firm in Union County.
Union County Prosecutor William A. Daniel said that Colleen Hallenbeck, 54, has been charged with one count of first-degree money laundering, two counts of second-degree theft, one count of third-degree theft, and three counts of third-degree forgery.
Officials said Hallenbeck, who was employed as a paralegal for the unidentified law firm, misappropriated funds from various estates handled by the firm between 2018 and 2024.
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Hallenbeck was responsible for distributing funds from estate accounts to beneficiaries. However, authorities said she wrote hundreds of unauthorized checks, totaling more than $700,000, to deposit into accounts she owned or controlled.
Hallenbeck surrendered to Union County Prosecutor’s Office detectives on Dec. 12, officials said.
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Officials ask anyone with additional information about the case to contact Detective Christine Spady of the Union County Prosecutor’s Office at 908-527-4567.
Patch's Alexis Tarrazi contributed to this report.
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