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Press Release

Franklin woman sentenced to 24 months in prison for stealing more than $61,000 from her employer

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Louisiana

LAKE CHARLES – United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced that a Franklin woman was sentenced Thursday to 24 months in prison for stealing more than $61,500 from the company where she worked.

Michelle Leann Berry-Ortemond, 41, of Franklin, La., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Patricia Minaldi on one count of wire fraud. She was also sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $55,346.66 restitution. According to the May 25, 2016 guilty plea, Berry-Ortemond stole $61,696.41 from a Lafayette construction company from February 2010 to April 2011 while employed there. She forged and cashed forged checks, initiated wire transfers and accessed a line of credit in the corporation’s name without consent.

The U.S. Secret Service conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert C. Abendroth prosecuted the case. 

Updated September 23, 2016

Topic
Financial Fraud