A former office manager at Burlington, VT-area auto dealerships has been sentenced to four months in federal prison for embezzling nearly $192,000 over a period spanning more than 10 years.
Jennifer LaBonte, 45, of Essex Junction, VT, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and was sentenced March 17 in U.S. District Court in Rutland by Judge Mary Kay Lanthier. In addition to the prison term, LaBonte was ordered to serve one year of supervised release, pay a $7,500 fine, and make full restitution, an obligation she had already satisfied prior to sentencing.
According to court documents, LaBonte began working for the dealerships in 2001 and became office manager in 2012, a role that gave her oversight of accounting operations and check-signing authority. Prosecutors said the embezzlement began no later than 2013 and continued until January 2024, when an internal review uncovered discrepancies and led to her termination.
LaBonte stole cash receipts paid by dealership customers and also issued unauthorized checks to herself, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Vermont, and attempted to conceal the thefts by falsifying entries in the dealerships’ accounting systems.
The total loss from the fraud scheme was estimated at $192,675.
The FBI conducted the investigation. Acting U.S. Attorney Michael Drescher praised the FBI’s efforts in uncovering the scheme.
LaBonte is represented by attorney Brooks McArthur. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Waples prosecuted the case. LaBonte is scheduled to report to the Bureau of Prisons on May 6 to begin serving her sentence.
