The office manager of a Tinton Falls-based construction company has been criminally charged with swindling her employer out of more than $2.2 million over the course of seven years, Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Lori Linskey announced on Monday.  

Donna Cook, 52, of Howell, has been charged with second-degree theft, third-degree forgery, and third-degree false uttering.

An investigation initiated by the Tinton Falls Police Department that ultimately grew to also involve members of the MCPO Financial Crimes and Public Corruption Bureau was launched several months ago. It determined that starting in 2015 and continuing into 2021, Cook allegedly stole company funds by writing herself unauthorized checks.

The investigation further determined that Cook had allegedly forged the signature of a company principal for the unauthorized checks, some of which were made payable to cash. The total yearly payouts ranged in value from a little more than $75,000 to nearly $475,000, and were used by Cook for alleged personal expenses.    

Cook was served with the charges via summons late last week and released on her own recognizance pending an initial appearance in Monmouth County Superior Court on Tuesday, Feb. 15.

— Edited press release from the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office

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