Half Million Dollar Embezzlement Case Indicted

Posted on 9/29/2009

Defendant: Katherine Stephens

Prosecutor Ron O’Brien announces that the Franklin County Grand Jury has returned a two count indictment against Katherine Stephens, a former employee of The Columbus Serum Company located at 2025 S. High Street.  O’Brien said, “Stephens was a trusted employee who abused her position by embezzling over a half million the past eight years.”

Stephens has been indicted for one count (F-2) Theft and one count (F-3) Tampering With Records.  The Theft has a maximum penalty of 8 years and the Tampering carries a maximum of 5 years.  The indictment alleges that between 2001 and 2009, Katherine Stephens, an account receivables clerk, had been crediting her personal debit and credit cards through the company credit card processing, and that the credits were going into her personal bank account and onto her personal credit card accounts, totaling in excess of $555,000.

“This type of white collar crime can cripple a solid business along with their employees who work hard everyday and are law abiding citizens.  Some companies can’t recover from this type of theft” O’Brien said.