Indiana Municipal Employee Accused Of Embezzling $430K In Public & Charitable Funds

From WTHR 13 (NBC) on 3/12/2015:

A former Bloomington city employee faces federal charges for stealing about $430,000 in public money and charitable contributions.

Court documents say Judith Seigle used the money for "personal expenses, such as dining, clothing, a vehicle, and multiple credit card debts."

Seigle worked as the office manager for Bloomington's Parks and Recreation Department and did the books for the non-profit Bloomington Community Parks and Recreation Foundation, Inc.

Investigators say both positions gave her access to money and financial records. She is accused of taking approximately $30,000 from the city and about $400,000 from the foundation.

The charges filed Wednesday describe the lengths investigators say Seigle went to in order to conceal the embezzlement for nearly four years, starting in 2010.

Prosecutors say she made personal purchases with foundation credit cards issued to her or to former or deceased Bloomington employees. They also say she diverted checks intended for the Parks Department to the foundation's bank account, and then used the money for herself.

Investigators determined Seigle used "Microsoft Excel to create false bank statement entries, which she then printed, cut, and taped on top of actual bank statements for the Foundation's account. She then scanned or copied these altered statements and provided them to the foundation's executive director and board of directors."

Seigle left her job with the city last October after being questioned about the missing money. She faces one charge of wire fraud. The federal court entered a not guilty plea for her and scheduled a trial for May.