Woman guilty of charity theft

[TexasStooge]

By John Austin, Star-Telegram Staff Writer

FORT WORTH, Texas - A former secretary for the Cancer Research Foundation of North Texas has pleaded guilty to stealing between $100,000 and $200,000 from the nonprofit agency by writing herself checks on its account.

Theresa Zimmerman, 52, pleaded guilty to a second-degree felony charge that carries a sentence of two to 20 years in prison, said her court-appointed lawyer, Robert Ford of Fort Worth.

"She made herself the payee on a series of checks over a substantial period," Ford said.

Zimmerman's admission last week, however, doesn't mean the Arlington resident will return the funds.

"I can't find where she has any money left," said Tonya Harlan, an assistant district attorney who prosecuted the case. "She has nothing to show for it."

[Guest]

What a terrible person! How could someone steal from an organization devoted to cancer research? I hope they give her the max sentence!

[Guest]

Its all about the Greed. I hope the make her pay restitution for all the monies she stole.

[Lindaloo]

The article does not say how long she has been there. If she has been there for a long period of time then she was probably taking small amounts at a time. If she has not been there long and took that much at once, then she has a gambling problem or she has a drug addiction. That is the signs of her having nothing to show for it.

Amazing laws in Texas. This would have merely been a felony embezzlement charge (1 count) in MS with room for plea bargaining. Max 10 years in prison plus restitution.

[GalvestonDuck]

I agree, Linda. How in the world she could spend that much without having any material items or receipts or anything to show what she did with it only proves that it was either gambling or drugs.

People are nuts.

[JCT777]

I give money for cancer research every year. This woman needs to be locked up for a VERY long time.