Trucking Exec, Embezzlement, Texas 2024

Trucking Exec Embezzled Over $120K

A 50-year-old trucking executive from Smithton, Illinois, has been indicted on five counts of wire fraud, accused of embezzling $120,804.57 from her employers.

Michele Serth-Stein, who worked for St. Louis-based trucking companies Midwest Systems and AA Express, Inc., allegedly submitted false invoices for reimbursement of driver recruitment expenses, directing the payments to her personal bank account.

According to the indictment, Serth-Stein first worked at Midwest Systems, where she was the company’s driver recruiter. She submitted false and fraudulent invoices to the company for payments directed to her personal bank account from October 2017 to January 2019.

Midwest Systems fired her on January 24, 2019. Serth-Stein then joined AA Express, Inc., another St. Louis-based trucking company, where she made unauthorized Automated Clearing House (ACH) transactions from the company’s business bank account and intercepted at least one check made payable to AA Express, Inc.

On August 10, 2019, Serth-Stein’s employment with AA Express, Inc. ended. For each count of wire fraud, Serth-Stein faces a maximum punishment of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating this case. Assistant United States Attorney Lindsay McClure-Hartman is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

The indictment is merely an accusation, and Serth-Stein is presumed innocent until proven guilty. If convicted, Serth-Stein could face significant time behind bars for her alleged crimes.

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