Arraignments delayed for ex-Putnam workers

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - An internal audit of the Roger L. Putnam Vocational Technical High School in Springfield resulted in two former employees being charged with larceny.

The 57 page audit took 13 months to complete. When it was done, the results were shared with state investigators, who charged two women.

45 year old Sherry Suber and 53 year old Ann Berry are accused of running separate schemes to steal money.
They were scheduled for arraignment Tuesday at the Hampden County Hall of Justice, but those arraignments are being delayed.

Suber will be arraigned on Wednesday, while Berry's arraignment has been postponed to January 18.

Suber, who was responsible for depositing school money into a city bank account, allegedly kept more than $14,000 for herself.

Ann Berry worked at the school store. She is accused stealing more than $16,000 by depositing the profits from store merchandise into her personal bank account.

So far, Suber and Berry are the only ones who've been identified in connection to financial discrepencies, but according to the audit, a total of four school employees were fired.

If convicted, Suber and Berry could each be sentenced to up to five years in state prison, and/or a $25,000 fine.