HARRISBURG — Virginia G. Kunigonis is headed to federal prison after being sentenced Wednesday in U.S. District Court for stealing more than $452,000 from the Schuylkill County Conservation District while working there.
“Mrs. Kunigonis did breach the trust that was placed in her,” Senior U.S. District Judge William W. Caldwell said before sentencing Kunigonis to spend one year in prison, followed by one year on supervised release, effective at 2 p.m. March 19.
Caldwell also ordered Kunigonis to pay a $100 special assessment and $452,122 restitution, $3,122 to the district and the rest to Pennsylvania Counties Risk Pool, the county’s bonding company. He also directed her to forfeit her county pension and her interest in the Branch Township home she shares with her husband.
How much of that restitution the government ever will see is problematic, if the defendant’s own words can be believed.
“I don’t have the money to repay what I stole,” a weeping Kunigonis, reading from a prepared statement, told Caldwell during Wednesday’s one-hour hearing. “I live with this remorse every day. My actions have caused me to lose everything I worked for.”
Kunigonis, 54, pleaded guilty on Oct. 15, 2015, to theft from programs receiving federal funds.
Federal prosecutors alleged, and the defendant admitted, that between October 2007 and May 2014, Kunigonis embezzled $452,186 from the district, for which she worked as an administrative assistant. Kunigonis forged 437 checks, totaling $410,435, drawn on a district checking account and used a district credit card to pay $41,751 in personal expenses, prosecutors said.
Kunigonis and her lawyer, Frederick J. Fanelli, Pottsville, each asked the court to impose either probation or house arrest, saying her bipolar disorder contributed to her impulsive spending, which, in turn, led to the embezzlement.
“I do believe the mental illness has contributed” to the spending binge, Kunigonis said.
Fanelli also said his client’s bipolar condition, while not justifying what she did, has plagued her entire life.
“It certainly can explain (what she did),” Fanelli said. “The mania feeds on itself.”
Fanelli also said Kunigonis already has paid a price for her crime.
“She is the subject of scorn and ridicule. She’s brought shame to her family. She is wiped out,” he said. “If she doesn’t move, she’ll never work again.”
John Kunigonis, the defendant’s husband, said his wife is remorseful.
“I see the mood swings, the pain, the hopelessness Ginny is going through,” he said. “She is my best friend. I don’t want to lose her.”
Christine Wheelan, the defendant’s sister, said her sister is a good person.
“She realizes the seriousness of this crime,” Wheelan said. “She has a very, very good heart.”
Assistant U.S Attorney Kim Douglas Daniel said that while Virginia Kunigonis’ condition is real, bipolar disorder does not invariably lead to excessive spending and cannot excuse what the defendant did. He also stressed that while Kunigonis spent some of the money on other people, she spent most of it on herself.
“There is a strong need for a just punishment and deterrence,” Daniel said.
Caldwell agreed, emphasizing that only a small portion of the money Kunigonis stole went toward buying gifts.
“An embezzlement of this magnitude cannot be satisfied with home confinement,” he said.
Daniel declined to comment after the hearing, as did Assistant County Solicitor Glenn Roth. Fanelli emphasized that his client, who left without commenting after the hearing, is not trying to justify what she did, but that her condition is a real one.
“It’s a very unfortunate situation,” he said. “Mental illness is a terrible thing. It’s no excuse, but it explains why it happened.”
Defendant: Virginia G. Kunigonis
Age: 54
Residence: Branch Township
Crime committed: Theft from programs receiving federal funds
Prison sentence: One year, plus one year supervised release