Monday, April 12, 2010

2 Separate Major Cases Of Embezzlement In Portage, Indiana

Hubert Lynn Edgemon II, 65, of Chesterton, Indiana, was sentenced Friday to 5 years in prison for embezzling $174,961 from ISA Sales & Service where he had been employed as a bookkeeper. Edgemon pleaded guilty last December to felony theft for the embezzlement which took place over a period of 3 years, between December 2005 and December 2008. According to authorities, he wrote more than 100 company checks to himself or to "cash" which he misappropriated or to pay personal vendors. Edgemon reportedly was on probation for a prior embezzlement that he perpetrated in Illinois. He reportedly used the stolen funds to support his indigent son and to pay restitution in the prior case.

The second case involves Sherri A. Steinhilber, 36, of Valparaiso, Indiana. Steinhilber was charged with theft for allegedly embezzling a significant amount of money from Harbor Super Store, an auto dealership where she had been employed as an office manager. The charges alleged up to $260,836 was stolen by Steinhilber. However, an audit of the company books indicates she misappropriated $397,045. Steinhilber's thefts reportedly took place over a five and a half year period between December 2003 and July 2009. When confronted by the company CFO, Steinhilber reportedly admitted the embezzlement. She faces up to 8 years in prison if convicted.

Read the story here.

Read stories related to Edgemon's case here and here.

Read another story related to Steinhilber's case here.

Update (10/9/10): Steinhilber's thefts, now believed to be as much as $500,000, spanned an eight and a half year period, from December 2003 until June 2009, according to authorities. She was sentenced to 3 years in prison, plus five years probation. In an unusual move, Steinhilber was not ordered to pay restitution. Instead, Judge William Alexa encouraged Harbor Superstore to sue Steinhilber civilly for recovery. We note that she has had prior theft convictions.

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