O’Fallon bookkeeper accused of taking client for more than $1 million
A federal grand jury for the Southern District of Illinois has returned a 10-count indictment against a bookkeeper from O’Fallon accused of a mult-year fraud scheme.
Kathleen M. Dvorak, 60, has been charged with five counts of wire fraud and five counts of bank fraud.
The indictment alleges that from 2012 through 2019, while working as a private bookkeeper, Dvorak embezzled more than $1 million from her client-victim by writing large checks, payable to herself, that were drawn on the victim’s bank account; and by taking large amounts of cash back for herself when she deposited checks payable to the victim into his bank accounts.
According to the indictment, Dvorak concealed her fraud from the victim by making false entries into his QuickBooks accounting program.
Each wire fraud count carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
The bank fraud charges each carry a maximum prison sentence of 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million. The indictment also requests that a forfeiture judgment be entered against Dvorak in the amount of $1,523,719.08.
The arraignment for Dvorak will be conducted on Sept. 10 at 10 a.m. at the federal courthouse in East St. Louis, Illinois.
The investigation was conducted by agents from the FBI Springfield Division, Fairview Heights Resident Agency. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Scott A. Verseman.
