PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Deborah Trybus, 57, of Lanesborough was found guilty in Berkshire Superior Court on Tuesday of steeling more than $1 million from her employer.

 

Trybus pled guilty to six counts of Larceny Over $1,200 By Single Scheme, six counts of Forgery Of Check, six counts of Utter False Check, six counts of False Entries Into Corporation Records, and one count of Common and Notorious Thief.

 

Judge Edward McDonough sentenced Trybus to serve three to five years in state prison. The state's sentencing guidelines recommend a sentence between one to three years. 

 

The Berkshire District Attorney's Office requested the three to five-year sentence, while Defense Counsel requested probation or a suspended sentence.

 

"I thank the Adams Police Department for their thorough investigation into this case. Mrs. Trybus stole a significant amount of money from the Apkin family over time, and I am proud that my office held her accountable for her actions," District Attorney Andrea Harrington said. "Small business owners place their trust in their employees and it is particularly harmful when people placed in trusted positions abuse that trust."

 

The Adams Police Department began investigating Trybus in 2019 for writing fraudulent checks. The State Police Detective Unit assigned to the Berkshire District Attorney's Office assisted Adams Police in the investigation.

 

Detectives discovered that Trybus, an office manager of George Apkin and Sons, had been writing fraudulent checks from the company and depositing them into an account she had opened for herself since 2012.