Joan L. Chenoweth, Embezzlement, Illinois 2018
URBANA, Ill. - A grand jury has indicted Joan L. Chenoweth, 57, of Tolono, Ill., on charges that she allegedly embezzled more than $600,000 from her employer, Illini Contractor Supply, over a period of five years.
According to the indictment, Chenoweth, who served as the office manager, used her position to write unauthorized vendor checks to herself or to cash payable from the company's bank account; wrote unauthorized payroll checks to herself that exceeded her salary; and, used the company's credit cards to make payments to her personal credit cards.
The indictment alleges that Chenoweth made false entries in the company's financial records and omitted true and correct entries in order to avoid detection.
As a result of the alleged scheme, the business suffered a loss of approximately $624,152.
Chenoweth is also charged with four counts of filing false income tax returns for calendar years 2014-2017.
The charges are the result of an investigation by the Champaign Police Department and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division.
If convicted, Chenoweth faces a statutory penalty of up to 20 years in prison for each count of wire fraud, and up to three years in prison for each count of filing a false federal income tax return.
Members of the public are reminded that an indictment is merely an accusation, and Chenoweth is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Key Facts
- State: Illinois
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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