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RI Woman Pleads No Contest in Charity Theft Case

Chris Boardman

Story Created: Nov 20, 2009 at 9:42 AM EDT

Story Updated: Nov 20, 2009 at 9:42 AM EDT

SOUTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. (AP) - A Rhode Island woman has pleaded no contest to charges that she stole more than $500,000 from two former employers, including a local charity.

Prosecutors say that by pleading no contest in Washington County Superior Court on Thursday, 55-year-old Louise Distefano of Westerly faces a maximum of five years in prison. She was also ordered to pay restitution. Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 22.

Authorities say she stole the money from Turning Pointe
Therapeutic Riding and Koolco Inc., a heating and air conditioning service company.

Prosecutors say she used some of the money to take her family on vacations to Hawaii, Florida and California, and on her family's rented house in an upscale neighborhood.

Her public defender could not be reached for comment.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Tuesday, Dec 8 at 1:25 AM Jim Sullivan Hayward wrote ...

Rene and Kim Montano are starting a charity by the name of "ARK Transitional Living Program". They claim to want to help children coming out of foster care. Truth is that they want to use the money for themselves. They have collected money door to door and then bought a flat screen for their own home. Operating in San Antonio, TX.

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Friday, Nov 20 at 11:36 AM Donna wrote ...

people like this should be sent to jail, I've seen three different cases of this in the last two days. Stealing from a charity, especially in these hard times is criminal, especially with the upcoming holidays!

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Friday, Nov 20 at 10:44 AM joe wrote ...

she's a scum bag to steal from a charity

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