A former Maryland state employee who admitted using a department-issued credit card for personal items has been sentenced to serve six months of a suspended five-year sentence in jail.
Tabitha Yaan Contee, a former Department of Natural Resources employee, was sentenced in Anne Arundel County Circuit Court on Thursday. She was also ordered to repay the tens of thousands of dollars she stole using her department-issued credit card.
Contee pleaded guilty in February to felony theft.
Prosecutors say she used the credit card to buy $46,500 worth of goods from retailers including Home Depot, Amazon.com, Sam's Club and Super Warehouse. Assistant Attorney General Megan Limarzi told The Capital newspaper that no one was checking her purchases because Contee was in charge of collecting supportive documents for departmental purchases. A review by state auditors prompted the investigation that led to Contee's arrest.
Defense attorney Robert Cappell said that Contee was on drugs during the period of her purchases, according to the newspaper. He also said that his client had low self-esteem.
