A recent embezzlement in Carroll County from the Carroll County Times March 15th 2012 issue. Unfortunately, this is a very common occurrence.
Story by Caroline Hailey Times Staff Writer
A Finksburg woman is facing six charges after allegedly stealing more than $60,000 from her employer by paying herself for overtime hours she never worked and making personal purchases on a business credit card.
Tiffany Ann Collins, 30, of the 3000 block of Old Westminster Pike, has been charged with three counts of theft scheme $10,000 to under $100,000, two counts of theft less than $1,000 and one count of theft scheme $1,000 to under $10,000.
Collins is being held at the Carroll County Detention Center without bond. She is scheduled to appear in court on May 8.
On Aug. 7, Maryland State troopers responded to a dental office in the 1000 block of Washington Road in Westminster for a report of a theft scheme.
The owner of the office told police that she recently discovered Collins, who worked as the office’s manager since July 2009, had been paying herself for overtime hours she didn’t work.
When the owner confronted Collins about it, Collins claimed it was a mistake, according to court documents.
The owner then attempted to review statements for a business credit card that was issued to Collins, but found most of the statements missing from the file. The ones that the owner could locate showed purchases unrelated to business for expenses such as television and cellphone accounts.
Police then obtained a handwritten statement from one of Collins’ co-workers who said Collins asked to come over to talk on Aug. 5.
Collins told her co-worker that the office’s owner found out Collins had been paying herself for overtime hours not worked, but didn’t think that the owner knew that Collins had been paying her BGE and television bills through the office, according to court records.
The co-worker said Collins also told her that when purchasing business supplies at stores such as Target, she would also buy personal supplies without telling the owner or paying the office back.
When interviewed by police, Collins said she paid herself for overtime hours not worked because she felt she worked those hours due to business related phone calls and time spent at the office after hours, according to court documents.
She also admitted using the business credit card for BGE and several other bills as her money got tight.
The total amount that Collins allegedly stole from the dental office is $60,894.40 over a seven-month period, according to court documents.
Reach staff writer Caroline Hailey at 410-751-5908 or caroline.hailey@carrollcountytimes.com.
