Woman faces embezzlement charges

By Elisa Glushefski

Published: April 26, 2008

The former executive director of a grassroots organization focused on substance abuse and addiction recovery is facing eight counts of embezzlement stemming from a months-long investigation by Virginia State Police into financial discrepancies found during her tenure.

Mary E. Bentley of Woodbridge was arrested Friday morning and charged in connection with writing more than $55,000 in checks to herself for reimbursements that "held no documentary support," according state police and court documents filed January in Prince William County Circuit Court.

According to court documents, Bentley served as executive director of the Glen Allen-based Substance Abuse and Addiction Recovery Alliance of Virginia from April 26, 2002, to Feb. 11, 2005.

After finding what appeared to be misspendings, the organization hired an accountant to conduct a full audit of its financial records, state police Senior Special Agent F.W. Scott Jr. wrote in an affidavit for a search warrant.

Bentley deposited checks she wrote and signed for business mileage, cell phone and other reimbursements into her personal bank account, court documents state.

But no documentation existed to

support those expenses, according to the

affidavit.

The organization's current executive director said Friday that the alleged improprieties happened in 2004.

Part of the problem was Bentley was working from her home in Prince William County, so there was a lack of accountability, Mark Blackwell, who took over as executive director roughly five months after Bentley's termination, said Friday.

Since Bentley's termination, Blackwell said the organization has taken steps to improve policies and procedures for financial

accounting.

"To be perfectly honest, we've come a long way in terms of restoring our credibility throughout the state and we're just looking to put this behind us," Blackwell said. "…We're working on bigger and better things."

Bentley is being held in lieu of a $50,000 bond.

Her arraignment is scheduled for Monday, according to the jail.

Staff writer Elisa Glushefski can be reached at 703-878-8062 or .