Gainesville woman pleads guilty to embezzlement

By Amanda Stewart

Published: August 21, 2008

A former Prince William County probation officer pleaded guilty Thursday to charges that she embezzled more than $1,600.

Lisa Renee Williams, 43, of the 17000 block of Loft Ridge Lane in Gainesville, pleaded guilty in Prince William Circuit Court to one count of embezzlement.

Williams worked as a probation and pretrial supervisor for the Prince William County office of Criminal Justice Services for 14 years before resigning in April 2007.

A few months after she resigned, during the summer of 2007, department officials noticed funds missing in accounts that Williams had managed, according to court testimony Thursday.

As a probation officer, part of Williams' job was to collect money orders from clients to pay for court costs, program fees and restitution and forward them on to the court.

A police investigation revealed that 19 times between August and December 2006, Williams instead deposited the money in her personal bank account, according to court testimony.

The total amount she took was $1,605, police said.

In court testimony Thursday police said that Williams cooperated during the investigation but did not tell investigators why she took the money.

Williams is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 14. She faces up to 20 years in prison.

Staff writer Amanda Stewart can be reached at 703-878-8014.