Springfield woman indicted in embezzlement
omaha.com | 3/27/08 |Kevin Cole
A Springfield, Neb., woman accused of embezzling more than $750,000 over five years from her employer is being held in the Pottawattamie County Jail.
Karen McDaniel, 53, is being held without bail pending a preliminary hearing Friday in U.S. District Court. A federal indictment unsealed Wednesday charges McDaniel with six counts of forging securities and 10 counts of money laundering.
U.S. Attorney Joe Stecher said McDaniel is charged with embezzling $759,479.38 while working as an account manager at Central Sign Supplies Inc., 4222 D St. The U.S. Secret Service and the Omaha Police Department assisted in the investigation.
The indictment alleges that McDaniel forged the names of authorized signers on company checks. The checks allegedly were used to buy cars, recreational vehicles, boats and trailers for her own use.
Stecher said some of the money also was used to pay court-ordered restitution owed by McDaniel as a result of an earlier criminal conviction.
The indictment alleges that she concealed her activities by altering the bank statements for the company's account. Each of the six forgery charges is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The first seven money-laundering charges carry a penalty of up to 20 years in prison and a $500,000 fine. The last three carry a penalty of up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.