Accountant Accused Of Stealing $39K In Company Checks

Caption: Brittany Hayden, 27, is accused of stealing more than $39,000 from her Tinley Park employer. | Cook County Sheriff

A staff accountant is accused of stealing company checks from her Tinley Park employer and depositing them in phony accounts that she created to pay herself, prosecutors said in court on Wednesday.

Brittany Hayden, 27, was arrested on charges of felony theft on July 12.

According to the charges, Hayden stole 26 checks from Mack Industries, of Tinley Park, between February 2015 up until July 12. Hayden used a signature stamp with the company owner’s signature stamp and deposited them into fake accounts which she set up herself.

Prosecutors said that Hayden cashed the checks at currency exchanges or by depositing them electronically into a pre-paid Visa account through a phone app.

The total amount stolen was $39,938.67, according to court records. Prosecutors said that Hayden made a written admission to taking the money.

Hayden has a previous conviction for felony them in 2011, and a 2009 conviction for misdemeanor embezzlement in Michigan, for which she received supervision.

Has previous convictions for felony theft and misdemeanor embezzlement in Michigan, for which she received supervision.

The public defender told the judge that Hayden did not have money for bail. The company was able to recoup the lost money through an insurance policy, but Hayden did not return any of it herself.

Bail was set at $50,000. The judge ordered Hayden to not have any contact with Mack Industries or staff. Her next court date is August 12.