SAINT PAUL, MN – Julie Ann Lee, 53, once trusted with the finances of the exclusive Town & Country Club in Saint Paul, is facing federal charges after an investigation uncovered a staggering eight-year embezzlement scheme. Lee allegedly siphoned off over $1 million from the private golf club, indulging in a lifestyle far beyond her legitimate means while leaving the club scrambling to meet its financial obligations.
According to an indictment unsealed today, Lee, as controller of the Town & Country Club (TCC) from 2008 through 2016, exploited her position to systematically steal funds. She allegedly issued over 50 checks directly from TCC’s accounts, totaling more than $150,000, and pocketed roughly $250,000 in cash deposits. But the scheme didn’t stop there. Lee also brazenly used TCC funds – approximately $600,000 – to directly pay off her personal credit cards.
Where did the money go? The indictment paints a picture of extravagant personal spending. Lee allegedly financed personal travel, extensive home improvements, and her mortgage with stolen funds. She also purchased a 2013 Dodge Charger, a 2015 GMC Sierra K3500 pickup truck, a motorcycle, a recreational vehicle, and a substantial 81 acres of land in northern Minnesota. The investigation suggests Lee lived a lavish lifestyle funded entirely by defrauding the members of the Town & Country Club.
To cover her tracks, Lee reportedly took advances on TCC’s line of credit with Alliance Bank, attempting to mask the dwindling funds. This deception ultimately led to the club’s inability to meet its quarterly payroll tax payments to the IRS. To further conceal the shortage, Lee filed false quarterly payroll tax returns, understating TCC’s liability. These late and inaccurate filings resulted in over $300,000 in interest and penalties levied against the club by the IRS.
Lee now faces four counts of wire fraud and six counts of filing false tax returns. She is expected to make her initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis later this week. If convicted, she could face significant prison time and hefty financial penalties. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson is prosecuting the case.
The investigation, a collaborative effort between the Criminal Investigation Division of the IRS, the United States Secret Service, and the Saint Paul Police Department, serves as a stark reminder that even seemingly secure institutions are vulnerable to internal fraud. The U.S. Attorney’s Office has vowed to pursue financial crimes vigorously, ensuring that those who abuse their positions of trust are held accountable for their actions. “This was a calculated and prolonged betrayal of trust,” a source close to the investigation told Grimy Times.
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Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
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