Employee allegedly stole $137,000

BY ART BUKOWSKI
abukowski@record-eagle.com

July 15, 2008 12:00 am

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Traverse City -- A Lake Ann woman who authorities allege embezzled close to $137,000 from a local landscape supply company faces several criminal charges.

Prosecutors charged Beverly Jean Ferguson with two counts of embezzlement by an agent or trustee of more than $20,000 but less than $50,000, three counts of forgery, three counts of uttering and publishing and one count of illegal use of a financial transaction device. Investigators said Ferguson, who worked as a bookkeeper for Blue Star Landscape Supply in Garfield Township before she was fired, used the money for utility bills, family trips and a host of personal purchases.

Ferguson, 44, was arrested Monday and is expected to be arraigned today. The Grand Traverse County prosecutor's office authorized the charges July 3.

Ferguson worked as Blue Star's bookkeeper from April 2001 until December 2007. Blue Star owner Clare Svec initially noticed discrepancies in the company's bank accounts in December 2007 when Ferguson was on vacation, according to a police report.

Svec noticed a series of purchases at Culver's, Michael's, Burger King, Staples and other businesses using a debit card linked to Blue Star's checking account.

Svec told investigators he never authorized a debit card for the business. The probe also showed Ferguson allegedly forged Svec's name on thousands of dollars in checks from the company checking account, the police report said. The checks were either cashed by Ferguson or used to pay her bills. Between the debit card, gas cards and forged checks, investigators estimate Ferguson's alleged theft totaled about $137,000.

Svec declined comment Monday.