Winterbottom sentenced
Three to nine years for theft from North Fork Parish Outreach
4 comments below
Standing before Judge Ralph Gazzillo, she said she was "extremely remorseful." He called her crime "an abomination." Despite her statement and what her supporters had hoped would be an opportunity to present a letter to the judge about her many years of charity work in the community -- work that has continued with her volunteering at Maureen's Haven at St. Agnes R.C. Church in Greenport while she was free on her own recognizance since pleading guilty to the charge on April 30 -- she was unable to make any restitution. The court refused to consider the letter that would have had to be filed at least seven days before the sentencing, one of her supporters said.
"The worst thing about this is you stole from the poor," a stern Judge Gazzillo said. "I see no remorse," he said.
Her attorney, Anthony Palumbo of Goggins and Palumbo in Mattituck, had no comment on the sentence.
But assistant district attorney Lucie Kwon "wholeheartedly" agreed with Judge Gazzillo, saying that in the months Ms. Winterbottom has been free, she hasn't demonstrated any willingness to pay back any of the money.
The funds were gambled away. A friend in Greenport pointed out that Ms. Winterbottom had "an addiction" to gambling and her attorney told The Suffolk Times in April that she wasn't living wealthy. The money was simply gone, he said then. Ms. Winterbottom has been living at McCann Trailer Park in Greenport where she served as park director until this month.
Had Ms. Winterbottom been able to pay $100,000 in restitution, the sentence would have been two to six years in jail, Judge Gazzillo had told her in April.
Ms. Winterbottom was arrested on Oct. 4, 2007, at the North Fork Parish Outreach Thrift Shop then located on Horton's Lane in Southold. She had been director there since May 2001, and was known in the community for her hard work on behalf of the area's poorest residents.
The North Fork Parish Outreach is a nonprofit operation directed by the pastors of four Catholic Churches in Southold Town -- St. Agnes in Greenport, Our Lady of Ostrabrama in Cutchogue and our Lady of Good Counsel Mission with churches in Cutchogue and Mattituck.
An internal audit of the organization's books by the Diocese of Rockville Centre revealed inconsistencies in financial documentation and missing funds, leading to an investigation by the Suffolk County District Attorney.
A forensic accountant determined that at least $733,019.72 had been taken over the years, Ms. Kwon said. There may have been more, but the case had to be brought on the basis of what could be proved, she said.
This was money used to by clients of NFPO to heat homes, pay bills and meet other vital expenses, Ms. Kwon said.
"Donations are sparse and it really hits close to the heart with so many people with so little," she said.
But that's not how Ms. Winterbottom's supporters saw it.
"She didn't deserve this," one of them shouted as she left the court building.
jlane@timesreview.com
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4 comments found
: 12/1/2009
I personally would like everyone to know that is my grandmother. there is no possible way she took that much money. i would like it if you would keep rude thoughts to yourself. this is though enough on my family as it is. we dont need to have rude things said. My grandmother is a very nice and respectable person. she had a gambling problem yes but she was getting help.
: 5/16/2009
I knew this woman personally... she deserves all charges brought against her
Winterbottom sentencing : 12/1/2008
I forgot one more important thing in my previous message ---- How did this Judge and D.A. expect her to pay back any money (she didn't take $100,000) when no one in the State of NY would hire her and she couldn't leave the State of NY to look for a job? She was subsisting on food donations and someone else was paying for her living expenses and her family and friends had to put up the money for her bail and to pay a lawyer who did nothing to help her. And she spent her entire last year volunteering to serve the poor and destitute and going to AA meetings and counseling sessions for her gambling addiction. None of that was taken into account - the letter the Judge refused to allow into evidence may have helped - she was never told she was going to be sentenced on that day so she was given no time to prepare ahead of time. Justice is not served in this case.
Winterbottom sentencing : 12/1/2008
Think about this: do you really believe that this small outreach program received $122,169.95 every year for 6 years ($733,019.72) and that this woman was able to use it to buy lottery tickets in the amount of $2,349.42 every single week for 6 years without someone noticing this? I think not. Shame on the Diocese for allegedly not conducting yearly audits -- also, has anyone delved into the reason why one of their own priests was suddenly sent away shortly before this woman was accused of taking all this money? Ms. Winterbottom has admitted to taking some money to buy lottery tickets over a period of time but vehemently denies that she took or was able to take that kind of money - she was browbeaten by her accusors into changing - yes changing - her plea to guilty and was very poorly represented by her attorney who refused to allow an audit by an independent forensic expert from Boston - instead taking the word of a so-called expert hired by the Diocese who is known to hide their own clergy when they are found to be less than pious and who take advantage of their positions, be it in sex abuse of children, or taking money that does not belong to them. Not to mention the conflict of interest with this Judge Gazzillo (Catholic??) and I'd like to be a famous District Attorney Ms. Kwon.......... Wake up people - take a good look at your Diocese and its clergy.............. She did not deserve to be charged with the entire amount - it is just not plausible. She was willing to plead guilty to less than the $50,000 for a lesser charge - find the true culprit!!!
