Michigan Woman Charged With Embezzling $355K

Susan Kay Barno, 40, aka Susan Fleet, has been charged in a civil lawsuit with embezzling more than $355,000 from her employer, DeWind Wells & Dewatering Inc., a Zeeland, Michigan area-based company. She allegedly stole the funds when she was employed by the company as a bookkeeper in 2006, according to the suit. Barno allegedly spent the money on a Chevy Suburban, a trailer, a pool, hot tub and to pay off credit cards. Court documents also reveal that she concealed a criminal past including a prior embezzlement conviction. Further, the suit alleges that Barno attempted to conceal her theft by removing of destroying computer evidence. She also has a 2003 bankruptcy.

Read her story here and here.

Clearly a little due diligence would have gone a long way in vetting this woman. Obviously, she should never have been hired in any fiduciary position. A background check would have found the prior conviction and the bankruptcy.