Embezzler in optometric practice receives 10-year sentence for stealing $100,000

A former longtime employee of a Lansing Township optometry practice was accused of stealing more than $100,000 in cash over several years, according to the article. The employee, Lorraine Z. Montalvo, used her position inside the practice to siphon funds gradually, taking advantage of routine access to patient payments and office money.[2]

The theft was ultimately uncovered by investigators, leading to a guilty plea and a 10-year sentence for the embezzlement case. For practice owners, the case highlights the importance of basic internal controls such as separating payment handling from bookkeeping, reconciling deposits regularly, and reviewing employee access to cash and accounting records to reduce the chance of long-term theft.[2]