Garden City man charged with embezzlement
Written by LeAnne Rogers Staff Writer; Apr 14, 2013
A Garden City man is facing a charge that he embezzled more than $100,000 while working as the manager at a Westland jewelry store.Kenneth Carl Murray, 42, waived his preliminary examination Thursday in Westland's 18th District Court. He was ordered bound over for trial on the felony charge of embezzling more $100,000 from Kay Jewelers, where he had been employed as manager of the store in Westland Shopping Center. A not guilty plea was entered for Murray.
State statute sets dollar amounts in embezzlement charges — in this case, an amount more than $100,000. Information provided to Westland police sets the dollar amount at significantly higher than the $100,000 threshold.
“Kay Jewelers did an internal investigation. They set the total loss of cash and merchandise at $223,702.83,” Westland Police Sgt. Norm Brooks said.
The charge is that money was stolen from the store through fraudulent returns and unauthorized charges to customers' Kay Jewelers credit cards.
“If someone bought a $3,000 item, he'd do a return and take the money. No item was returned,” Brooks said. “He is also accused of taking merchandise. The jewelry was sold or pawned.”
No merchandise or money have been recovered, Brooks said.
The embezzlement took place from September 2012 until Murray was terminated by the store in December, Brooks said. It was not known how long he had worked for the jewelry chain.
Murray is free on $10,000/10-percent bond. His circuit court arraignment is set for April 25.
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