Elizabeth Byrne, Embezzlement, Missouri 2023

Local Office Manager Sentenced for Embezzlement in Missouri

St. Louis, MO – In a shocking turn of events, Elizabeth Earnest, a/k/a Elizabeth Byrne, a/k/a Elizabeth Johnson, a former office manager and bookkeeper, was sentenced to 41 months in prison for embezzling over $2 million from her employer.

According to court documents, between 1997 and February 2013, Byrne worked as an office manager and assistant for various businesses owned by an individual referred to in court documents as Employer. Her duties included managing and paying the Employer’s personal bills and attending to the Employer’s personal schedule.

Byrne, a resident of St. Louis, MO, abused her position of trust to embezzle funds from her Employer and to cover up her embezzlement. She made blank checks signed by the Employer payable to herself instead of paying the Employer’s personal expenses.

Byrne would then deposit the checks into one of her personal bank accounts and use the funds to pay her personal bills and to send funds to family members. In order to conceal the scheme, Byrne intercepted Employer’s monthly bank statements and removed and shredded the incriminating checks that she had made payable to herself.

To further cover her tracks, Byrne falsified bookkeeping entries she prepared for the Employer and falsely classified the expenses.

Her scheme was uncovered in February 2013 when she was out of the office for a vacation and someone else was able to receive, open and review the true bank information.

Byrne pled guilty last July to one felony count of mail fraud and appeared today for sentencing before United States District Judge Jean C. Hamilton. Additionally, as part of her earlier plea, Byrne has agreed to the forfeiture to the government all money and property derived from her illegal activity.

This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service. Assistant United States Attorney John Bodenhausen handled the case for the U.S.

Defendant: Elizabeth Byrne (Elizabeth Earnest, a/k/a Elizabeth Johnson)

Criminal Charges: One felony count of mail fraud

City and State: St. Louis, MO

Date: February 2013 (crime date), July 2023 (guilty plea), [no sentencing date specified]

Sentence: 41 months in prison

Dollar Amount: Over $2 million

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