Neosho Woman Pleads Guilty to Forged Checks
Stole $168,000 from Her Employer

SPRINGFIELD, MO—Beth Phillips, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Neosho, Missouri woman pleaded guilty in federal court today to cashing forged checks as part of a scheme to steal $168,600 from her employer.

Irene M. Davis, 44, of Neosho, waived her right to an indictment and pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge James C. England to a federal information that charges her with making, uttering and possessing forged securities.

Davis was employed at Ragland Mills, Inc., in Neosho, as the payroll and accounts payable clerk. From June 3, 2010 to April 15, 2011, she wrote a total of 20 checks on her employer’s bank account, totaling $167,539. Davis made the checks payable to herself and forged the signature of an authorized company representative to each check. In order to conceal her theft, Davis accessed the company’s accounting software and altered the payee lines of the forged checks to make them appear as though they had been made payable to a vendor with which Ragland Mills does business.

Davis also admitted that she stole approximately $1,061 from the company’s petty cash fund.

By pleading guilty today, Davis agreed to forfeit her interest in the 2007 Mercedes Benz that she purchased with stolen funds, which will be used to pay restitution.

Under federal statutes, Davis is subject to a sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison without parole, plus a fine up to $250,000 and an order of restitution. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robyn L. McKee. It was investigated by the FBI.