Employee Wrote $414K in Bogus Checks to Herself: Prosecutors

A bookkeeper for a Bethesda architecture firm has admitted that she stole more than $400,000 from the company over three years, according to federal authorities.

Amy Ranee Powell, 41, of Huntingtown, recently pleaded guilty to interstate transportation of stolen money in connection with a scheme to embezzle about $414,000 from her employer, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Maryland.

From 2003 through 2013, Powell’s duties at the Bethesda firm – which was not named by federal authorities -- included bookkeeping and office management. Prosecutors say Powell wrote checks from the company’s bank account to pay the company’s bills. The company’s owner endorsed the number of blank checks needed to pay the bills, and then gave the checks to Powell to be completed.

Powell admitted that from December 2010 through September 2013, she wrote at least 82 unauthorized checks from the company’s account, payable to herself. The amounts ranged from $500 to $8,000, and totaled $420,444, authorities said.

She deposited at least 16 unauthorized company checks, totaling $80,546, at her bank in Springfield, VA. When Powell’s actions were discovered in September 2013, her bank returned $6,322 to her employer.

Federal officials say Powell admitted that she diverted at least $414,122 from the company’s bank account and deposited the money in her own bank account.

As part of her plea agreement, Powell has agreed to repay all of the victim’s losses, which is at least $414,122. In addition, Powell will be required to forfeit any assets traceable to her crimes, substitute assets, and/or a money judgment equal to the value of the property involved in the offense.

Powell faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison when he is sentenced on Jan. 6, 2016.