Jessica Furman, a 40-year-old former manager of a Dollar General store in Hancock, pleaded guilty to Grand Larceny in the Third Degree in Delaware County Court. The Class D Felony charge came after Furman admitted to embezzling approximately $41,000 from the store, which she subsequently lost in gambling.

During her court appearance on Monday, Furman recounted how her addiction to gambling led her to transfer the stolen funds into her personal bank account. Initially, she had hoped to win and repay the store with her gambling winnings. However, her plan backfired, resulting in a total loss of the funds. “I had an addiction, I needed money, and I thought I could win it back and then repay the store,” Furman explained in court.

The presiding judge, the Honorable Gary Rosa, sentenced Furman to five years of felony probation. Additionally, she was ordered to repay $43,050 to the Dollar General store within a 54-month period. Failure to comply with the repayment plan could result in a prison sentence ranging from two and a third to seven years. This case highlights the severe consequences of gambling addiction and its impact on both individuals and businesses.

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