Melissa Evans, Bank Fraud, West Virginia 2020

Melissa Evans, Bank Fraud, West Virginia 2020

PALESTINE, W.Va. – A Wirt County woman is headed to federal prison after a years-long scheme to pilfer funds from the Parkersburg dental practice where she worked. Melissa Evans, 49, was sentenced to 21 months behind bars after pleading guilty to bank fraud, United States Attorney Mike Stuart announced Thursday.

Evans wasn’t grabbing cash from the register. This was a calculated, four-year operation. As the financial coordinator for the dental practice, Evans intercepted checks mailed from insurance groups. Instead of depositing those checks into the practice’s account, she rerouted them to her own, systematically siphoning off over $120,000. Authorities say she fraudulently deposited more than 300 checks during the course of the scheme.

“Evans stole from her employer for four years,” Stuart stated. “Now, in addition to repaying her employer, she’ll be spending almost two years in federal prison.” The court also ordered Evans to pay $145,000 in restitution – covering the stolen funds and likely associated investigation costs. A hefty price for a prolonged betrayal of trust.

The investigation was a joint effort between the U.S. Secret Service and the Parkersburg Police Department. While the Secret Service is often associated with protecting dignitaries, they also have a significant mandate to investigate financial crimes like this one, particularly those involving checks and banking systems. The Parkersburg PD provided crucial local support in building the case.

United States District Judge Irene C. Berger handed down the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Kathleen Robeson prosecuted the case. Court documents related to the case, identified as Case No. 2:20-cr-00026, are available for review on the PACER system. Evans will likely begin serving her sentence in a federal correctional facility in the coming weeks.

This case serves as a stark reminder that even seemingly ‘white collar’ crimes carry serious consequences. Embezzlement, even over an extended period, will attract federal scrutiny and a lengthy prison term. The dental practice, undoubtedly reeling from the financial hit and breach of trust, will at least receive some measure of financial recovery thanks to the investigation and court order.

Source: https://www.secretservice.gov/newsroom/releases/2020/12/wirt-county-woman-sentenced-prison-bank-fraud