Employee Stole $426,000 in Checks From Rockville Business

An employee at a Rockville rehabilitation center pleaded guilty Wednesday to mail fraud charges related to stealing more than 500 checks totaling approximately $426,000 out of her employer’s incoming mail.

Jennifer Xanten, 51, of Fredrick, admitted to stealing the checks out of the center’s incoming mail from February 2014 to July 2015, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office of Eastern Virginia, the prosecutors in the case.

Xanten was responsible for sending out invoices for payments, including to clients in Virginia. She would then intercept the incoming checks and deposit them into her personal account without authorization.

Xanten faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison when sentenced on Jan. 28, 2016.