Alleged bank swindle relied on a trusting employer

ROCHESTER - A Profile Bank staffer said to have bilked the financial institution for almost $35,000 relied on the good faith of bank officers whom she allegedly lied to about taking college courses for which she was reimbursed tuition she never paid.

Jennifer Dube, 35, of 24 Brenda Lane, received some 23 checks from the bank as payment for tuition over a five-year period.

Last month a Strafford County grand jury handed down 23 theft-by-deception indictments on Dube, one for every check she allegedly cashed, each one totaling an amount more than $1,500.

Dube, who on recently filed court papers listed her address as 8 Rudman Drive in Gonic, has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Dube apparently began submitting reimbursement forms in April of 2007 and over the course of five years submitted 23 vouchers in all.

“She would tell them she took this class and they would reimburse her,” said Rochester Police Capt. Paul Toussaint. “They had faith in their employees.”

Toussaint said he could not elaborate much on the case so as not to jeopardize its prosecution. He also would not say what finally tipped officials off to Dube’s alleged scheme.

The indictments say Dube swindled her employer by “creating or reinforcing a false impression … that she had paid for college course when, in fact, she had not.”

Each Class A felony count carries a prison term of 3½-15 years plus a $4,000 fine.  

The district attorney’s office has refused comment on the case.

Phone calls to Profile Bank have not been returned. 

Dube’s bail is set at $2,500 personal recognizance as she awaits scheduling of her next court appearance.