Woman Admits Stealing From Judge

A former secretary admitted to emptying $846,000 from a pension and profit-sharing fund belonging to U.S. District Judge Marvin Katz and his former law partner, Sen. Arlen Specter.

Kathleen M. Groetzinger, 55, of Philadelphia, pleaded guilty to bank fraud and embezzlement of pension funds Thursday in U.S. District Court in Camden, N.J.

Groetzinger admitted that between 1987 and 1995, she used her position as trustee of the law firm of Specter and Katz to systematically drain the fund of $846,000, then falsify bank records to cover it up.

Groetzinger has not said what she did with the money.

Sentencing was set for July 19. Groetzinger faces a maximum 35 years in prison, $500,000 in fines, plus restitution of the embezzled funds.