PRESTON, MD - A woman from Seaford, DE has been convicted of embezzling more than $35,000 from a business in Preston, MD while she was an employee.
Karen Knauer, 55, of Seaford, was found guilty of embezzling $36,245.30 from Bell Creek Equipment LLC over years as an employee at the business.
According to the Office of the State’s Attorney Caroline County Sloane Franklin, Knauer was Bell Creek’s bookkeeper and office manager, overseeing the financial operations of the company including accounts payable and receivable. Knauer took money and wrote herself checks from the company, according to the prosecutor.
Franklin says Knauer was sentenced on December 13 to three years in prison, with all but six months suspended. Knauer is to report to the court to begin that six month sentence on January 2nd. Following her prison term, Knauer was sentenced to 3 years probation and must pay full restitution and fees to Bell Creek, according to court documents.