Embezzlement Is Very Costly for Wisconsin Printer
MIDDLETON, WI—The former bookkeeper and office manager of Roemer Printing has pleaded no contest to two counts of misdemeanor theft. Maureen Beers was accused of giving herself unauthorized pay raises totaling roughly $123,000 over a period of years, the Baraboo News Republic reported.
As part of the plea deal, a charge of felony theft was dismissed. Beers has also agreed to pay back $40,000.
Owner Robert Roemer learned of the incident when the IRS contacted him regarding unpaid payroll taxes, according to the paper. The initial tally of $123,000 was based upon an audit subsequently performed on Roemer Printing's books.
According to W-2 forms, Beers' salary escalated from $27,600 in 2003 to $41,200 in 2007. In all, Roemer Printing lost $176,000, counting the salary overpayment, the cost of the audit, unauthorized checks and IRS fines.
Roemer Printing closed a second production facility located in Sauk City, WI—the same plant where Beers worked—after alerting police of the theft in 2009, according to the Republic.