Many Missourians may be familiar with Goodwill, an organization and chain of stores that allow patrons to donate clothing and other goods for sale to others. It now seems that a former executive of the Missouri division of the company was benefiting more from the company than he should have.
According to a press release, the United States Attorney’s Office announced today that Ronald Partee admitted with his plea that he embezzled more than $1 million in funds from Goodwill, using the funds to purchase numerous vehicles, travel, purchase tickets to sporting and concert events, and to pay expenses of others.
The release also notes that when co-workers asked Partee about his wealth, he told them that he made money investing in real estate.
And that's not all. There's more:
Partee also convinced Goodwill to provide him with tuition reimbursement assistance for law school. He did not enroll or attend law school, but provided Goodwill with false records indicating that he had enrolled at Saint Louis University, then transferred to Washington University and graduated. Partee often left work to reportedly attend to law school matters and even threw himself a graduation party.
And even more, this time aimed at Goodwill retirees:
Additionally, Partee stole about twenty checks from Goodwill retirees that were intended to be paid for insurance premiums. Partee mailed letters to the retirees directing them to make out premium checks to one of his phony businesses.
And the charges Partee pled guilty to?
- One felony count of embezzlement
- One felony count of money laundering
- Both charges carry a maximum 10 year prison sentence, and/or fines up to $250,000
Sentencing will be on April 1, 2011.