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West Chester Woman Accused Of Embezzling More Than $1 Million From Her Employer

By Syma Chowdhry

MEDIA, Pa. (CBS) — Joyce Hawkins doesn't want to be seen after being accused of embezzling more than $1 million  from her former employer ModSpace.

Hawkins was a senior executive and had the ability to set up payments from ModSpace to other businesses.

Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan says she created a ghost company called "Caring Hearts."

"She could set up accounts and decide who money was getting paid to, so what she did, she created a dummy account for something called Caring Hearts," Hogan explained. "And she had money directed from ModSpace to Caring Hearts and then she collected the money from Caring Hearts."

Hogan says she spent the money on a vacation home in Maryland and two boats.

Hawkins allegedly used the names of former ModSpace employees as part of the payments to Caring Hearts in order to cover her tracks.

The defendant also listed her daughter as the president of Caring Hearts.

"Her daughter was not involved. That her daughter was listed as the president of the company and that the defendant forged her daughter's name onto the tax documents."

On one of Hawkins LinkedIn profiles – she lists Caring Hearts -- and names herself as the President and CEO.

She describes the dummy entity as a $2 million company with 10 employees.

Hogan says Hawkins planned to resign from her $200,000 a year position at ModSpace earlier this month.

"She announced she was leaving the company. That she was resigning and during the course of that there were one of the employee that came in with one of those requests and said, does this look, right?"

ModSpace released a statement saying:

"ModSpace is cooperating fully with law enforcement officials in this matter but must withhold additional comment at this time as this is an active, ongoing investigation."

Authorities are now investigating to see if Hawkins stole from previous employers.

Hawkins is currently free on bail.

Eyewitness News went to her West Chester home but no one answered.

"When we look at this case, it is just greed."

Hawkins now faces felony theft and forgery charges.

Her preliminary hearing is set for May 7th.

 

 

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