When people in Missouri work at jobs that require them to handle money, they likely want certain safeguards in place to prevent them from facing accusations of misdeeds in the event that money should go missing. Unfortunately, there are a variety of different reasons why money might appear to go missing, including simple errors that are not related to a crime. Despite this, a retired city clerk now faces accusations of embezzlement.
The 69-year-old woman reportedly worked as a city clerk for approximately 40 years. Now retired, she faces federal accusations that she stole money from the city. According to a U.S. attorney, she ran what he termed a “check for cash” scheme to embezzle money.
According to federal reports, the women would steal some cash payments that were made to the city. She would then fail to record all of the checks received so that it would appear that the city’s financial books balanced. It is unclear how the alleged actions were uncovered.
As a result of the embezzlement accusations, the woman is accused of mail fraud and bank fraud. If convicted, she could spend the rest of her life in prison, with the mail fraud charge carrying a potential sentence of 20 years and the bank fraud potentially resulting in a 30 year sentence. Such cases are often complex and potentially have serious consequences upon conviction. Without the help of an experienced attorney, the Missouri woman may be unsure of her options and how to proceed with the case against her. Fortunately, an attorney can ensure that she has the information that she needs to make informed decisions about her case.