48-year-old Catarina Young, the primary owner and operator of Elite Benefits Corp in Middlesex County, has been sentenced on January 9th, 2014 to seven years in state prison by Superior Court Judge, Dennis Nieves.
A Middlesex County jury convicted Young of second-degree theft by unlawful taking and second-degree misapplication of entrust property or property of a government or financial institution after she stole nearly half a million dollars from a trust fund. The trust fund directed funds for health insurance policies and prescription coverage for hundreds of employees and their families.
Young had deposited 86 checks and 16 wire transfers totaling $462,341 into her personal bank account between 11/17/03 and 12/26/06.
The money should have been utilized for health insurance benefits from Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey and Benecard.
Young’s actions left 1,000 working people and their families uninsured.
Elite Benefits Corp is no longer in business.