United States v. Valerie Terrigno

Terrigno appeals her conviction after a jury trial for embezzlement and conversion of public funds in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 641 . She contends the district court abused its discretion in denying her motion to strike surplusage from the indictment and in imposing a condition on her probation. We affirm.

Terrigno was the Executive Director of Crossroads Counseling, a federally funded organization that counseled area residents seeking employment and provided emergency assistance (e.g. rent payments and grocery store gift certificates) for the needy. Terrigno was Director from late 1982 until Crossroads closed in October 1984, and she was responsible for all administrative functions, including disbursement of funds. Crossroads was a joint recipient of a grant of some $41,000 in 1983 and 1984; the funds were authorized by Congress and distributed through the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The indictment alleges that Terrigno embezzled these federal funds by: (1) issuing checks drawn on Crossroads’ account to her personal friends who were not eligible recipients for their and her own personal use; (2) issuing Crossroads’ checks to pay her own rent and to pay for repairs of…