Lee’s Summit Woman Sentenced for $5.3M Embezzlement

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – In a shocking turn of events, Lee’s Summit resident Jane Barnes has been sentenced to eight years in federal prison for embezzling an astonishing $5.3 million from her employer, ACI Boland Architects.

Barnes, 54, was also ordered by U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark to pay a total of $5,293,300 in victim restitution. This comes after Barnes pleaded guilty to wire fraud, bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft in August 2016.

The architect firm’s office manager from 2008 until her resignation in March 2016, Barnes was charged with using her position of trust to enrich herself through fraudulent means. Over a decade, she forged the signatures of a principal partner on hundreds of occasions, embezzling funds for personal gain.

Barnes’ first scheme involved unauthorized salary increments, totaling at least $1,622,078, while her second scheme saw her create 359 unauthorized payroll checks, amounting to $3,671,222. The investigation revealed the stolen money was used lavishly, including high-end travel, cars, and extravagant living expenses.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathleen D. Mahoney prosecuted this case, which was investigated by the FBI. As part of her plea agreement, Barnes must forfeit all proceeds derived from her fraud, including vehicles and a significant sum of money.

This sentencing serves as a stark reminder of the far-reaching consequences of white-collar crime and the determination of law enforcement in bringing justice to victims.