Crime & Safety

Woman Known for Giving Free Gowns to Military Brides Charged with Embezzling $5.1 Million

Ephonia Green, who also runs a bridal shop that donated gowns to military brides, faces federal embezzlement charges for allegedly stealing millions from the Association of American Medical Colleges.

A Maryland woman known for donating wedding gowns to military brides to repay their service faces federal charges of allegedly embezzling $5.1 million from her employer, according to theWashington Post.

Federal court records show that since 2005, while working as a $56,000-a-year administrative assistant, Ephonia M. Green, 44, allegedly stole millions from the Association of American Medical Colleges, the Post reports.

Of the alleged loss, nearly $1.4 million was paid via 74 checks made out to Green’s Upper Marlboro bridal business, known asCouture Miss Bridal & Formal, the newspaper said.

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The Post story says that Green was able to steal the money by registering company trade names and opening bank accounts in business names that closely resembled those of legitimate vendors to the association.

Green had enough access through her employer to key financial systems that she was able to create fake invoices in the names of legitimate groups that she then approved for payment, the court files say. And when the checks were ready, she had them returned to her, not sent to the vendors, the Post reports.

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