Newport pharmacy controller sentenced to 16 months for embezzling $305,000

A man was sentenced Friday to 16 months behind bars for embezzling more than $305,000 from his Newport Beach employer over seven years.

Dennis Sam Medici, 58, of Fullerton was given credit for 440 days in custody, so he is expected to be released from jail soon. He also was ordered to pay $305,026 in restitution.

Medici pleaded guilty Oct. 17 to 53 felony counts of possessing a completed check with the intent to defraud, plus sentencing enhancements for aggravated white-collar crime between $100,000 and $500,000. Medici accepted a plea deal, according to court records.

He wrote 361 checks to himself totaling $305,000 over seven years while he was the controller of Horton & Converse Pharmacy, Newport Beach police investigator Emily Bledstein said in court papers.

He also was accused of voiding the checks to evade detection, Bledstein said.

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