A woman from Howell, New Jersey, has pleaded guilty to embezzling approximately $4 million from her employer and engaging in tax fraud over several years, officials announced. Jeanette Avellan, 62, entered her guilty plea before Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Natalie S. Watson, admitting to second-degree theft, third-degree failure to pay income taxes, and third-degree filing a fraudulent tax return.
As part of a plea deal, Avellan faces a recommended four-year sentence in state prison. She had worked as a bookkeeper for West End Express Co., a South Brunswick-based business, beginning in 2005. Between January 2017 and January 2023, Avellan stole approximately $4 million from the company, funds she acknowledged were used primarily for gambling.
In addition to the theft, Avellan admitted to intentionally filing false tax returns, failing to report the stolen funds, and evading taxes on the money she misappropriated. These violations affected her tax filings for the years 2019, 2020, and 2021.
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Under the terms of the plea agreement, Avellan has agreed to pay full restitution of $4.03 million to her employer. She will also pay $559,919 to cover unpaid taxes, penalties, and interest to the New Jersey Division of Taxation for the years in question.
“Employers must trust that their employees in financial roles will act with integrity, especially when handling sensitive funds,” said DCJ Director Theresa L. Hilton. “In this case, the defendant’s gambling addiction led her to betray that trust by stealing and falsifying records to conceal her crimes.”
Sentencing for Avellan is set for May 9, 2025, in front of Superior Court Judge Henry P. Butehorn in Monmouth County.
The investigation was carried out by the Division of Criminal Justice’s Casino Prosecution Unit, the New Jersey State Police Financial Crimes Unit, the New Jersey Division of Taxation, and the DCJ Frauds and Forfeiture Bureau. Deputy Attorney General John Corson is prosecuting the case, under the supervision of Deputy Attorney General Jennifer Davis.
