Teary-eyed embezzler says she's sorry

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - A former law office bookkeeper shed tears as she learned her fate for pocketing more than a half-million dollars from employers who trusted her.

A teary-eyed Paulette Reed was in court Wednesday. The 44-year-old pleaded guilty to two counts of grand larceny. In a matter of six and a half years, the former bookkeeper managed to embezzle more than $500,000 from two local law firms.

Reed said, "I'd like to say I'm sorry. I know that's not the appropriate word, but I can't think of a more appropriate word other than that. I'm sorry for what I put the Lippes Firm through and what I put the Simpson Firm through."

Reed worked at the Lippes, Mathias, Wexler, and Friedman Firm for five years, and in that time she siphoned just over $280,000 from them by using company checks, wire transfers, and bank checks. She then was hired by Simpson and Simpson where she proceeded to steel nearly $275,000 from them.

Ellen Simpson of Simpson and Simpson said, "At the time we discovered Paulette's theft, our choice was clear. We immediately reported the the theft to the police, despite the possibility of negative publicity, and the potential embarrassment that can come with such a disclosure."

Reed was sentenced to double one to three year sentences that will run concurrently. She has also been ordered to pay back all the money she stole, which she says was spent on her children's college tuition, trips, and "good times."