TOPEKA, KAN – Candy A. Gunderson, 45, of Lawrence, Kansas, is trading her office for a federal prison cell. The former office manager for Garber Enterprises was sentenced Tuesday to 24 months behind bars for a brazen, years-long embezzlement scheme that siphoned over $485,000 from the Lawrence property management company.
U.S. Attorney Tom Beall announced the sentence, alongside a hefty restitution order demanding Gunderson repay every penny stolen. The scheme, which ran from 2007 to 2015, wasn’t a single act of desperation, but a calculated and sustained effort to line her pockets at the expense of Garber Enterprises.
Gunderson pleaded guilty to one count of interstate transportation of stolen funds, admitting to a litany of fraudulent activities. The indictment revealed a methodical approach to theft. She wasn’t just skimming; she was actively manipulating the company’s finances for personal gain. Among her tactics: depositing company checks into her personal account, forging Garber Enterprises checks, and using company funds to cover expenses for rental properties she personally owned.
The depth of her deception extended to brazenly using the company VISA card for personal expenses and depositing cash belonging to Garber Enterprises directly into her own accounts. Even seemingly small bills – like her personal phone bill – were paid using forged checks drawn on the company’s account. It was a systematic abuse of trust, carried out over eight years.
Federal investigators meticulously pieced together the evidence, revealing a pattern of deceit that left Garber Enterprises significantly impacted. The Lawrence Police Department and the FBI played crucial roles in the investigation, working alongside Assistant U.S. Attorney Rich Hathaway to build a solid case against Gunderson.
Beall commended the collaborative efforts of law enforcement, emphasizing the importance of holding accountable those who exploit positions of trust for personal enrichment. Gunderson’s case serves as a stark reminder that financial crimes, even those committed over long periods, will be pursued and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. She’ll have 24 months to reflect on that reality.
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Key Facts
- State: Kansas
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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