NEW YORK, NEW YORK – A trusted employee at a famous Manhattan hotspot has been accused of a staggering betrayal. Prosecutors allege that the bookkeeper for Fresco by Scotto, the popular Italian restaurant co-owned by Fox 5 news anchor Rosanna Scotto, embezzled $2.5 million to fund a lavish lifestyle, including the purchase of a new home.
A "Brazen" Seven-Year Scheme
Lori Jakubowski appeared in Manhattan Supreme Court on Wednesday to face charges of grand larceny and falsifying business records. According to the District Attorney’s Office, Jakubowski ran the scheme over a seven-year period, siphoning money through various methods ranging from snatching cash tips to writing herself unauthorized checks from the eatery’s bank account.
Assistant District Attorney Stephen MacArthur revealed the petty depths of the alleged fraud, noting that Jakubowski even "used the restaurant’s bank account to pay for her husband’s Spectrum Internet bill." She is also accused of overpaying herself by issuing unauthorized paychecks for fake vacation time.
Buying a House with Stolen Cash
Prosecutors claim the stolen funds were used to line Jakubowski's pockets and fund her life outside of work. Specifically, she allegedly used at least $100,000 of the embezzled money to purchase a house in Pennsylvania. Court documents detail that to fund the $164,500 home purchase, she allegedly wrote out 88 separate checks and money orders and cashed them over a mere four-day period.
Judge Althea Drysdale agreed to release Jakubowski on supervision but issued a stern warning regarding her out-of-state property. "As much as you have that other abode in Pennsylvania, you must come to court when I tell you to come to court," the judge said.
Facing 25 Years
Jakubowski pleaded not guilty to all charges. If convicted of the top count, she faces up to 25 years behind bars. Her attorney declined to comment after the arraignment.
A spokesperson for Fresco by Scotto, which recently renewed its lease on Madison Avenue, stated that the business is cooperating fully with the investigation. Jakubowski is due back in court on February 28, 2026.
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