Former Gaston Cancer Services leader pleads guilty to embezzlement

Stephanie L. Roberts, 54, of Gastonia, pleaded guilty Friday to stealing thousands of dollars from a non-profit corporation for cancer patients.

According to court documents, Roberts served as the executive director of a Gastonia non-profit corporation that provides support and resources for cancer patients. Beginning no later than Jan. 8, 2016, through Jan. 21, 2022, Roberts embezzled more than $136,000 from the non-profit corporation. In addition, Roberts admitted in court that she failed to pay more than $200,000 withheld from the paychecks of the non-profit corporation’s employees for federal income, Medicare and Social Security taxes to the IRS, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Roberts made and subscribed under penalty of perjury U.S. Income Tax Returns in which she falsely stated the amount of tax withheld from her wages and claimed that amount was paid to the IRS.

Roberts pleaded guilty to theft in connection with health care, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison; failure to truthfully account for and pay over trust fund taxes, which carries a statutory sentence of no more than five years in prison; and making and subscribing a false tax return, which carries a penalty of up to three years in prison.

According to the terms of Roberts’ plea agreement, she will be required to pay full restitution to the non-profit corporation. Also, at sentencing, Roberts will be subject to additional court fines and a forfeiture money judgement. A federal judge will determine the actual sentence at a hearing not yet scheduled.