Woman embezzled $1 million from Greenwich firm

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — A woman who worked as an office manager for an investment company in Greenwich has pleaded guilty to charges related to the embezzlement of more than $1 million from her employer.

Forty-six-year-old Claire Balducci of Stratford pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud Wednesday in federal court in Hartford. She was released on $250,000 bond and is subject to home confinement ahead of a sentencing hearing set for March.

Federal prosecutors say Balducci issued checks from the private firm's business accounts to herself and deposited them in her personal account. She was also accused of opening a credit card account in the name of the company's managing partner and making unauthorized charges for her personal expenses.

Authorities say she had access to six business bank accounts as office manager.