Former Bookkeeper Sentenced to Federal Prison for Embezzlement | WPN World People News

A former Spencer-based oil and gas company bookkeeper who stole more than $800,000 from her employer was sentenced to two years in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin. Rosalie J. Seabolt, 60, of Spencer, West Virginia, previously pleaded guilty to mail fraud in August. Seabolt was employed at Kimco Inc. and its affiliate, Roy G. Hildreth and Son Inc. (“Hildreth”) for more than 25 years. During her employment at Kimco, Seabolt eventually became the company’s bookkeeper.

From approximately September 9, 2000 and continuing through December 24, 2012, Seabolt wrote numerous unauthorized checks to herself from Kimco’s bank account. During the scheme, Seabolt deposited and cashed these checks at her personal credit union. Seabolt hid the unauthorized checks from Kimco by writing false information in the company’s books that indicated the checks were made to Hildreth as a business expense.

“Small businesses are the lifeblood of our state’s economy,” U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin said. “That’s why my office has focused on investigating and prosecuting cases like these, to protect small businesses and to send a clear message that stealing from those business carries serious consequences."

From at least 2000 through 2012, Poca Valley Bank mailed monthly bank statements to Kimco that included check images. Seabolt, who was in charge of reviewing the monthly bank statements, altered the statements by covering up the check images that revealed unauthorized checks she had written to herself. Also during the scheme, Seabolt destroyed portions of original bank statements the company had received from the bank.

On January 10, 2013, Seabolt told law enforcement that she had defrauded Kimco. In total, Seabolt took at least $815,693.27 of money from the company between 2000 and 2012.

At sentencing, United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr. ordered Seabolt to pay full restitution in the amount of $815,693.27 to Kimco.

Source: U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation