Fort Collins bookkeeper Rose Horne was sentenced to 36 months in prison for mail fraud and money laundering, officials said.
Horne, who worked for a small, family-run plumbing business in Fort Collins for 27 years, embezzled over $1 million from her employer from at least October 2005 through June 2011.
As part of her scheme, Horne wrote approximately 170 unauthorized checks to herself from her employer’s payroll bank account, forging signatures on some checks or presenting checks to the authorized signatories under the guise that the checks were for business expenses.
Horne also obtained a personal credit card from Chase Bank, knowing the business also had a Chase credit card account, so that checks made payable to Chase Bank to pay her personal credit card bills would not raise questions.
Horne attempted to conceal the theft by writing “void” on check stubs, falsely writing the name of an actual vendor on the check stubs, and by cutting and blacking out portions of her employer’s bank statements that included copies of the checks in question.
“Frauds like this one can be financially and emotionally devastating to small business owners,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Matt Kirsch. “Ms. Horne ran but ultimately could not hide from the consequences of her crimes.”
Horne was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Robert E. Blackburn after pleading guilty on May 5, 2021. She was indicted on March 11, 2014 and remained a fugitive until her arrest in California in June 2020.
“IRS-Criminal Investigation will use all its available resources to pursue those who defraud American taxpayers” said Andy Tsui, IRS-Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge, Denver Field Office. “Horne abused the trust bestowed upon her by her employer, fled when her illegal activities were discovered, and is now being held accountable for her actions.”
Horne must pay $977,115.87 in restitution as part of her sentence.
This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Pegeen D. Rhyne.
Case No. 14-cr-00093-REB
Denver, Colorado, May 5, 2022
Related Federal Cases
- Stefano Guido Vitale, $23M Fraud and Money Laundering, AZ 2024 · Washington
- Western Union, Aiding Money Laundering, Colorado 2023 · California
- Moises Alberto Yanez, Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering, Tulsa … · Washington
- Seven Defendants Plead Guilty to Money Laundering Using Fraudulent … · Connecticut
- Corey Earl Engelen, Money Laundering, CO, 2023 · Washington
Key Facts
- State: Colorado
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
ðŸâ€Â’ Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
