Buena Woman Charged With Stealing $2.5M From Disability Nonprofit

A Buena woman who worked as the chief financial officer for a not-for-profit for adults with disabilities has been charged with the theft of over $2.5 million from the company, money laundering, and tax evasion.

The NJ Attorney General's Office says that Colleen Witten, 55, of Buena, allegedly stole more than $2.5 million from the company while serving in positions of financial authority.

Witten's husband, Allen, also of Buena, also is accused of receiving property stolen from the agency.

Atlantic County Woman Accused of Stealing Millions

In a release on Friday, Feb 28th, Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin alleges that between May 2019 and March 2024, while Colleen Witten was the comptroller, and later, chief financial officer of the Burlington County-based not-for-profit, she used her positions to misappropriate approximately $2.58 million directly from the company’s legitimate bank accounts.

Friday's release does not specify the company where Whitten worked, but online documents show she held the position of financial controller for the Occupational Training Center of Burlington County, a nonprofit that offers vocational rehabilitation and job placement programs for disabled adults.

“Colleen Witten once served as a trusted financial officer for an organization helping adults with disabilities,” said Legal Chief Pablo Quiñones of the Office of Securities Fraud and Financial Crimes Prosecutions.

 “She allegedly abused that trust by stealing millions of dollars from the organization for her own personal benefit and tried to hide stolen money by laundering it through her family business.  Our office remains committed to rooting out such significant white-collar crimes in New Jersey.”

 

Wife, Husband Accused of Stealing Money From Nonprofit

From June 2023 to March 2024, Witten allegedly transferred more than $500,000 to a landscaping company she controlled, knowing that the transactions were designed to conceal the source of the money.

From July 2020 to April 2024, Witten allegedly failed to pay income taxes totaling $174,480.

The charges against Allan Witten allege that on March 7, 2024, he knowingly received $189,000, knowing or believing the money had been stolen.

If convicted, Colleen Witten could face fines and as much as 10-20 years in state prison.

Allen Whitten could face fines and up to 18 months in prison.