A Bucks County Woman Has Pleaded Guilty To Embezzling $1.8 Million From Montco Employer

HORSHAM, PA — A Bucks County woman who formerly worked as a financial controller for a Montgomery County-based global management company has pleaded guilty in federal court to embezzling more than $1.8 million from her former employer.

Donna Laansma, 57, of Fairless Hills, Pa., pleaded guilty Thursday to two counts in a federal criminal case against her, according to court records.

Laansma admitted to embezzling the funds and for failing to report the fraudulently obtained earnings to the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.

Patch reported on the federal case against Laansma back in February.

Laansma was formerly employed as the financial controller for Astea, a worldwide global management company based in Horsham that specializes in software management.

As part of her duties, Laansma was in charge of handling the company's worldwide finances.

The United States government previously said that the defendant swindled nearly $2 million from her former employer and covered her tracks "so well that her fraud was only discovered when the company was acquired."

On Thursday, Patch reached out to the IRS to see if the agency would respond to the guilty plea.

"As a Certified Public Accountant, Donna Laansma was well aware of what income is," said IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Yury Kruty. "She also knew that she had a duty to report all of her income, yet she failed to do so. Her admission of guilt today is a reminder that IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agents will utilize all tools at its disposal to uncover such schemes and hold the perpetrators accountable."

According to the IRS, Laansma had obtained a company credit card and used the corporate account to spend more than $1.8 million on personal expenses including her son's college tuition, personal bank account payments, vacations, furniture, food, gift cards and other items, like shoes.

The feds said that the fraud was discovered in 2020 when Astea was acquired by another global software company.

Sentencing has been scheduled for Aug. 3 before U.S. District Judge Michael M. Baylson at the federal courthouse in Philadelphia.

Court records show that Laansma was released on $25,000 bail pending sentencing.