News and Press Releases
Payroll agent pleads guilty to embezzling $1.1 million from Land O’ Lakes
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 12, 2012
MINNEAPOLIS—Earlier today in federal court in St. Paul, a former payroll agent for Land O’ Lakes pleaded guilty to embezzling more than $1 million from the company. Cynthia Carol Jacobsen, age 58, of Brooklyn Park, specifically pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud. Jacobsen, who was charged on June 19, 2012, entered her plea before United States District Court Judge Donovan W. Frank.
In her plea agreement, Jacobsen admitted that from 2008 through May 15, 2012, she fraudulently entered her daughter’s name into the company’s payment system as a vendor and then authorized 489 payments to her. During that time, Jacobsen worked as an accounts payable supervisor and authorized payments to vendors for services rendered. The illegal payments were sent by mail to Jacobsen’s residence. In addition, Jacobsen admitted forging her daughter’s signature and cashing the checks for her own personal use.
For her crime, Jacobsen faces a potential maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Judge Frank will determine her sentence at a future hearing. This case is the result of an investigation by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christian S. Wilton.
