BIRMINGHAM – An Etowah County woman pleaded guilty Tuesday to fraud and identity theft charges connected to a scheme through which she stole more than $900,000 from her former employer, announced U.S. Attorney Joyce White Vance and FBI Special Agent in Charge Patrick J. Maley.

PEGGY MCGLAUGHN, 67, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge C. Lynwood Smith Jr. to bank fraud and aggravated identity theft for stealing about $933,000 from Bob Roberts & Company, an Etowah County construction company where she worked as bookkeeper and office manager for 24 years. Her sentencing is scheduled Oct. 13.

According to her plea agreement, McGlaughn carried out her scheme as follows:

From October 2003 until February 2010, McGlaughn obtained the signatures of Bob Roberts & Company principals on company checks and told the principals those checks would be used to pay for company expenses. McGlaughn would make the checks out to another company employee and, unbeknownst to that employee, forge his endorsement on the checks and then present them to a local bank for payment. During the course of her scheme, McGlaughn forged endorsements and cashed more than 100 company checks, keeping the money for herself.

McGlaughn could face a maximum sentence of 32 years in prison and a $1 million fine.

The FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Borton is prosecuting the case.

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