John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that PENNI SHERMAN, also known as PENNI PARKER, 52, of Norwalk, waived her right to be indicted and pleaded guilty today in Bridgeport federal court to fraud and tax offenses stemming from an embezzlement scheme.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Sherman operated PSP Accounting & Bookkeeping, and provided bookkeeping services to area businesses. Between 2011 and 2018, Sherman stole a total of $418,197.09 from clients and used the funds to pay her own credit card bills and to cover other personal expenses, including salon services.
Sherman failed to report the embezzled funds, and certain other business receipts, on her federal income tax returns, resulting in a loss of $125,167 to the Internal Revenue Service.
When confronted about the embezzlement, Sherman returned $163,730 to one of her victims, from whom she had stolen more than $396,000.
Sherman is released pending sentencing, which is not yet scheduled.
This matter is being investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer R. Laraia.