A Howell woman who worked as an office manager for a construction company in Tinton Falls has been charged with embezzlement.

In a Monday statement, Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Lori Linskey said that 52-year old Donna Cook stole more than $2.2-million from her employer over the course of seven years.

Cook is now being charged with second-degree Theft, third-degree Forgery and third-degree False Uttering.

Her alleged scheming came to an end last year after seven years of syphoning company funds to use for personal gain.

Tinton Falls Police began the investigation but as they looked into the claims, looped in the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office Financial Crimes and Public Corruption Bureau and collectively they learned that her rouse began in 2015 and went into last year as she wrote unauthorized checks to herself.

In addition to that, investigators said Cook allegedly forged the signature of a company principal in order to write the checks which she would make, some, payable to cash.

While the total illegal earnings were more than $2.2-million, Cook brought in yearly payouts of between $75,000 to nearly $475,000 -- and again for personal use.

After Cook was served with the charges via summons late last week, she was ROR pending a first appearance in court which will take place in Monmouth County Superior Court on February 15.

If on that day, she is convicted of the second-degree charge, Cook is looking at up to 10-years in state prison.

The case is being prosecuted by Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutor Kristen Anastos.

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