Ohio readers may be interested to hear about the case of a woman recently arrested on federal charges in a neighboring state for allegedly extorting money from another woman rumored to have had an affair with her husband. The other woman was arrested for embezzlement from the college where she worked. Supposedly, the recently arrested woman threatened to tell the college employee’s husband about the affair if she failed to pay.
Federal authorities charged the woman who allegedly made the threats with extortion. Investigators are attempting to verify the identity of the man with whom the cashier was having an affair. The embezzlement was reportedly discovered in May of last year.
In October, estimates put the amount of money stolen at $500,000, but recent estimates suggest that the amount is over $1 million. The West Virginia college fired the woman and her supervisor. The supervisor was not charged, but the college fired him for not properly overseeing the flow of cash. It has not yet been determined how much of the money missing from Bethany College was paid in the supposed extortion scheme. A review of the recently charged woman’s finances and assets, along with a search warrant executed last year, revealed a substantial amount of cash found in her home, along with several large cash purchases.
The woman charged with embezzlement is hoping that if prosecutors secure a conviction of the other woman for extortion, the extortion conviction will be taken into consideration in her own case. As would be the case here in Ohio, federal prosecutors will first need to prove that the woman charged with extortion is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. After reviewing the evidence and statements against the woman, her criminal defense team can prepare a defense to the charges aimed at achieving the best possible resolution of all pending criminal charges.
Source: hsconnect.com, Arrest made in Bethany embezzlement, Jo Ann Bobby-Gilbert, Feb. 17, 2014