CONCORD — Katherine Torres, the Manchester woman accused of bilking the Pine Haven Boys Center, the Allenstown-based residential facility for boys, out of some $240,000 over the several years she was its office manager, has been sentenced to 18 months in federal prison.

Torres, 47, pleaded guilty in May to wire fraud charges, according to the office of Acting U.S. Attorney John J. Farley.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Torres, in her capacity as Pine Haven’s sole payroll administrator, “submitted false information to Pine Haven’s payroll company” on various occasions between 2012 and march 2019, while she was the center’s office manager.

The documents state that the false information Torres submitted to the payroll company “caused direct deposits to be made into her personal bank accounts.”

Pine Haven, founded in 1963, is a private, nonprofit intensive residential facility that cares for boys ages 6-15 with behavioral, educational or emotional problems, according to its Website.

Among the law enforcement personnel involved in the case was Joseph R. Bonavolonta, special agent in charge of the FBI Boston Division.

“It’s difficult to fathom how Katherine Torres could target, prey upon, and systematically rip off a school that cared for boys with behavioral, educational, and emotional issues, stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from them, without a second thought,” Bonavolonta said.

“But she did exactly that, and with today’s sentence, she has finally been held accountable.

“Criminals who prey on, and steal from, our most vulnerable citizens, should know their actions carry real consequences,” he added.

Added Farley, the acting U.S. Attorney, “This defendant took advantage of her employer’s trust to steal a substantial amount of money.

“This disturbing abuse of trust was a troubling crime that cannot be tolerated,” Farley said. “As this case demonstrates, white collar criminals will be caught and will face significant consequences for their unlawful conduct.”

Dean Shalhoup may be reached at 594-1256 or dshalhoup@nashuatelegraph.com.

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