Bookkeeper defrauds small business

A 51-year-old Ajax woman is facing numerous charges after she was caught defrauding a small business in Pickering of nearly half a million dollars.

The DRPS Major Fraud Unit held an investigation into the conduct of a bookkeeper who was hired part time by a small family-owned flooring company located in Pickering.

Between September 2013 and November 2016, it is alleged the accused used her position to write unauthorized business cheques to herself, forge the employer’s signature, falsify record entries in the accounting software and dispose of banking records before they could be reviewed by the employer or their accountant. It is alleged that this scheme continued undetected for over three years, during which time the suspect fraudulently obtained close to $500,000 causing the small, family-owned company significant financial hardship.

It is further alleged she laundered the proceeds obtained from this fraud by converting the cheques to cash, some of which was used to purchase a motor vehicle.

Search warrants were executed at the accused residence where several items were seized as proceeds of crime, including a motor vehicle.

A 51-year-old female of Skelton Crescent in Ajax is charged with fraud over $5,000, possession of property obtained by crime, forgery, falsification of books or documents and much more.

Investigators want to ensure there are no other victims and urge anyone with new information about this investigation to contact Det. Carriere of the Major Crime Unit at 905-579-1520 ext. 5279.