Yaasmin Hooey, Ex-Girl Scout Finance Director, Charged With $310K Embezzlement

Former finance director of the Girl Scout Council of Greater New York, Yaasmin Hooey, has been charged with stealing $310,000 from the nonprofit organization known for its nearly ubiquitous cookie sales, NBC reports.

By forging checks and wire transfers, the 35-year-old fraudster, who's worked most recently as a martial arts instructor, used money from the organization to purchase Metro-North railroad tickets and groceries, as well as items including a $13,000 diamond ring and a luxury cruise, the New York Post reports.

And while Hooey appears to have broken the Girl Scouts of the USA's law that says all members "Be honest and fair" and "Responsible for what I say and do," criminal charges of grand larceny and forgery certainly carry much more severe consequences.

"The defendant’s charged crimes not only violated the trust of the Girl Scout organization, but the trust of the girls that the organization serves," Cyrus Vance, Manhattan District Attorney, said in a statement. "The District Attorney’s Office will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute crimes against nonprofit organizations.”

The episode comes just after the Girl Scouts were recovering from a scandal concerning the use of palm oil in their cookies. After two girl scouts pointed out that palm oil plantations contribute to deforestation and Orangutan abuse in the rain forest, the organization has agreed to reduce its use of palm oil.

Comments

[Diane926]

01:26 AM on 10/06/2011

Keep allowing these efin immigrants into our country, the United States hasn't seen anything yet.. This pathetic country has lost ALL control and is at it's knees, now, just do not be caught in the right place at the wrong time as we are on standby for the next disaster to come, mark my words.. God bless to all that really care!

[lillian1128]

02:07 PM on 10/08/2011

WTH does immigrants have to do with a Trusted Director strealing from young girls. Get a life that was a very ignorant post!!!! I guess some people have nothing better to do than to point fingers.

[LaBellafemina]

07:25 PM on 10/05/2011

They've become a Corporate Company, did you really think they were honest? I'd start looking higher up too, but they're all probably on the phone with their attorneys as we speak.

[Keith Karatzas]

07:02 PM on 10/05/2011

Someone got caught with their hand in the cookie jar. Stealing from little girls, how much lower can you go?

[GOODDOC1]

07:17 PM on 10/05/2011

GO AWAY!!!!!

[triciab79]

06:44 PM on 10/05/2011

Sadly the Girl Scouts (unlike the Boy Scouts) are a highly liberal organization so it is really no surprise to see fraud at the top.

[Views from the Middle]

07:00 PM on 10/05/2011

Girl Scouts is a non-political organization whose leaders work hard to provide resources and educational opportunities for girls. Your comment is pure nonsense and completely uncalled for.

[Seattlewkr]

07:10 PM on 10/05/2011

Yet they're still using palm oil.

Hmm.

[Mothering4Him]

10:45 PM on 10/05/2011

No, sadly triciab79 is completely correct...check it out...completely liberal! Nothing like the girl scouts I grew up attending.

[jufrgs]

06:44 PM on 10/05/2011

Lock her up for life.

[superultralib]

06:43 PM on 10/05/2011

Orangutan abuse?

[Apachee55]

06:42 PM on 10/05/2011

You would think think the USA would get it HIRE VETERANS FIRST or everyone else will steal all your money. Like Now Girl Scouts, what is next. Maybe someone with sense will HIRE VETERANS FIRST

[GarlandL]

06:46 PM on 10/05/2011

What? You think a vetren won't steal from you? People are PEOPLE> Every one is differant and there are theives in all walks of life. Just look at the Honest politicians and the clergy>

[GOODDOC1]

07:20 PM on 10/05/2011

What does any of this have to do with Veterans? NOTHING!

[fwabc]

06:32 PM on 10/05/2011

with a name like yaasmin...not really a surprise

[GOODDOC1]

07:21 PM on 10/05/2011

Why not?

[lillian1128]

02:09 PM on 10/08/2011

so now we can judge character by the person's name. SMH!!!!!

[modocdave3]

06:27 PM on 10/05/2011

Funny. The politicians and Corporate EEOs usually get congratulated for pulling the same kind of crimes.

[Seattlewkr]

07:11 PM on 10/05/2011

and get bailed out by our tax dollars!

[jemteku]

06:09 PM on 10/05/2011

There are lower and more degenerate crimes to commit, but this greedy lady is a low life. How dare you steal with a title like "Finance Director"? What a fancy title for a common, low life thief. You embarrassed the whole organization. I could care less how embarrassed the thief is. >:o(

[americasmuseum]

06:24 PM on 10/05/2011

And what about the BOARD OF DIRECTORS of the organiztion? All non profits must have at least a 3 members Board of Directors. The article says nothing.

[jemteku]

03:52 PM on 10/07/2011

For real. They must have been Blind and Deaf (no disrespect). A good auditor would have caught this greed immediately.

[Mike Rebel Carman]

06:03 PM on 10/05/2011

She must be a republican...

[Diane926]

02:20 AM on 10/06/2011

Before you start throwing politics into this hun, sit down, educate yourself, try to read and truly understand what our so called president has done to this declining quickly country the last 2 years besides give to the lazy unworthy people we call american citizens who milk the system.. Sorry but you have no clue and obviously don't care because your one of them..

[Mike Rebel Carman]

05:33 PM on 10/06/2011

Well, first of all I didn't attack you personally. I just stated that the person stealing money from the girl scouts must be a republican. Since you are defending this, it is clear that you are a republican. I see that republicans will do anything for money. They do not care who they hurt to get what they want. Obama is doing the best that he can with the terrible economy left by Bush. Maybe you should educate yourself. Then you would know when to use the word "you're" instead of your. I guess private schools don't really educate as well as we thought.

[genesammo]

05:58 PM on 10/05/2011

With a name like Yaasmin, I wounder if she is related to the President?

[americasmuseum]

06:25 PM on 10/05/2011

And you believe you did a great joke.

[fwabc]

07:21 PM on 10/05/2011

I thot it was a funny comment

[fwabc]

07:23 PM on 10/05/2011

no matter...nobama will say the GSA acted stupidly

[NYCBruce]

05:51 PM on 10/05/2011

I'm sorry, but I've just GOT to laugh! Did the Girl Scouts REALLY hire a finance director with the last name of "HOOEY"? Well, they certainly GOT a big "pile of hooey"! LOL...

[SallyIQ199]

09:57 PM on 10/07/2011

LOL......you read my mind...LOL

[lovetolearn]

05:47 PM on 10/05/2011

Years ago, I believe it was on 60 Minutes, they had a story about the girl scouts getting only 20 cents per box, then showed a picture of a huge, luxurious building which was their headquarters. Since that story aired, I quit buying their cookies. The only mouth watering cookies are homemade. Some local stores with a bakery have some very good cookies also, and cost half the price.
Its a nice change of pace to see these crooks getting busted these days!

[justathought39]

06:04 PM on 10/05/2011

You are correct. The troop gets very very little from the sale. I would rather hand the troop $3.00 than buy the cookies.

[lovetolearn]

07:13 PM on 10/07/2011

Your idea is brilliant, yet so simple! This is a superlative answer!!! A way for the scouts to get funding without having % taken from them! I LOVE IT!

[lillian1128]

02:18 PM on 10/08/2011

now they are $4.00 per box