[Image: Joleen Minnich]
Chippewa Falls, WI – In a shocking turn of events, Joleen Minnich, 41, office manager for County Veterinary Hospital in Bloomer, WI, was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison for her involvement in a kickback scheme.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Wisconsin, Minnich pleaded guilty to wire fraud and filing a false tax return on April 25, 2022.
The investigation revealed that between 2014 and 2017, Minnich used her position to embezzle approximately $224,596 from the business’ bank account by creating 204 fraudulent checks to herself.
The scheme involved three categories of fraudulent checks: non-payroll checks to herself, flexible spending checks to herself, and health insurance checks to herself. Minnich failed to enter the non-payroll checks into the accounting software program QuickBooks and used the flexible spending and health insurance checks for personal expenses.
In addition to the embezzlement, Minnich was responsible for remitting County Veterinary Hospital’s payroll taxes to the IRS. However, she failed to remit the payroll taxes to conceal her embezzlement and created false entries in QuickBooks to show that she had remitted the taxes.
At the sentencing hearing, Judge William Conley stated that the severity of Minnich’s conduct and the length of the fraud were aggravating factors. The judge also noted that the owner of County Veterinary Hospital was a longtime family friend of Minnich, making her actions a ‘special type of betrayal.’
As a result of the scheme, Minnich was ordered to pay a total of $278,445 in restitution. The investigation was conducted by IRS Criminal Investigation, and the case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Wegner.
Defendant/Respondent: Joleen Minnich
Criminal Charges: Wire fraud and filing a false tax return
City and State: Chippewa Falls, WI
Exact Date: April 25, 2022 (plea hearing)
Sentence/Outcome: 12 months and one day in prison
Dollar Amounts: $224,596 (embezzled funds), $278,445 (restitution)
Related Federal Cases
- Jeremy J. Fishnick, Wire Fraud, Cedar Rapids IA, 2023 · Washington
- Stanley P. Phillips Sentenced to Nine Years for Wire Fraud, Dothan … · Alabama
- Sandra Stiner, Wire Fraud Aggravated Identity Theft, WI 2023 · Wisconsin
- Kevin Shibilski, Wire Fraud and Hazardous Waste Violations, WI · Wisconsin
- Crystal Austin, Wire Fraud Conspiracy, MO 2023 · Wisconsin
Key Facts
- State: Wisconsin
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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