Vermont Business Magazine The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that Jennifer Dwyer,
49, of St. Johnsbury, Vermont, was sentenced today in federal court on one count of wire fraud
arising out of the embezzlement of approximately $2.2 million over a ten-year period from her
Lyndonville employer, Northeast Agricultural Sales, Inc. U.S. District Judge
Christina Reiss sentenced Dwyer to 51 months in prison, to be followed by three years of
supervised release. Judge Reiss also ordered that Dwyer pay restitution in the amount of
$2,221,079.47.
According to court records, NEAG is a family-owned and operated business established in 1987
with locations in Lyndonville, Vermont and Detroit, Maine. Dwyer was hired at NEAG in 1998,
eventually serving as NEAG’s bookkeeper for more than ten years. As bookkeeper, her
responsibilities included customer billing, handling company accounts, and managing NEAG’s
payroll system. Between 2007 and 2017, Dwyer embezzled approximately $2,221,079.47 from
NEAG through unauthorized electronic transfers of funds from NEAG’s payroll account to her
personal checking account. Dwyer used the misappropriated funds on on-line gambling and to
pay personal debts and expenses.
As part of her plea agreement with the government, Dwyer agreed to apply several assets (or her
share of those assets) toward restitution. These assets included a 2013 Cedarcreek Silverback
Camper, a 2004 Chevrolet Silverado, a 2003 Chevrolet Commercial Silverado, and a 2013
Yanmar tractor. The government also forfeited a 2015 GMC Sierra truck. Under Dwyer’s
agreement with the government, she further paid the value of her interest in her St. Johnsbury
residence—$57,387.75—toward restitution. Dwyer also voluntarily turned over the proceeds of
the sale of a Sea Doo watercraft. In total, these assets resulted in $84,621.70 for victim
restitution. Before she reports to the Bureau of Prisons on March 24, 2020, Dwyer is expected to
pay an additional several thousand dollars towards restitution derived from the liquidation of a
life insurance policy and investment account.
United States Attorney Christina E. Nolan noted: “Jennifer Dwyer repeatedly stole thousands of
dollars at a time over ten years as a trusted employee of Northeast Agricultural Sales. The
sentence today reflects the devastating impact her decade-long $2 million embezzlement had on
this family-owned Northeast Kingdom business. The U.S. Attorney’s Office remains committed
to the prosecution of significant frauds that impact Vermont businesses and families.”
“Today’s sentence represents the FBI’s commitment to investigating fraud cases,” said Anna
Holden, Supervisory Senior Resident Agent in Charge of the FBI Albany Field Office’s
Burlington Resident Agency. “Jennifer Dwyer broke the law and betrayed the trust of her
employer, and now she will face the consequences of her actions. The FBI will continue to
investigate those who commit fraud for personal gain to ensure that they are brought to justice.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation in this matter, with assistance
from the Lyndonville Police Department.
This prosecution was handled by First Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin J. Doyle. Jennifer Dwyer is
represented by Natasha Sen, Esq. of Middlebury.
The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more
about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years