A local woman has admitted stealing nearly $570,000 from the American Diabetes Association over nearly a decade.

Adrienne Carrington, 56, of Fredericksburg pleaded guilty to wire fraud yesterday in U.S. district court in Alexandria.

She will be facing a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine when she is sentenced Jan. 20.

According to a release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, Carrington worked as a senior financial analyst and later as treasury manager for the diabetes association.

From August 2001 until September of last year, she used her position to initiate unauthorized wire transfers from the association's bank account to an account she controlled.

Court records state that she made 133 unauthorized transfers totaling $569,827 and altered internal accounting documents to make the transfers appear legitimate.

Carrington spent the stolen money on such things as clothes, restaurants and gambling.

"Adrienne Carrington used her position of trust to rip off half a million dollars from the [diabetes association] in an extremely callous crime," said U.S. Attorney Neil MacBride. "Instead of helping the 25 million Americans affected by this disease, she stole the money and spent it on gambling, buying fancy clothes and dining out."

The FBI's Washington Field Office investigated the case.

Keith Epps: 540/374-5404
Email: kepps@freelancestar.com