ITASCA – An Itasca woman is charged with five felony counts after allegedly stealing more than $600,000 from her employer over five years, according to Randall Samborn, Northern District of Illinois spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Geena Cepek was indicted Thursday by a federal grand jury, Samborn said. She is charged with two counts of mail fraud, two counts of interstate transportation of stolen funds and one count of credit card fraud.
Cepek worked as an officer manager and bookkeeper for an unnamed Itasca company during June 2006 to June 2011, when the alleged incidents took place, according to the indictment.
Over that time period, she reportedly fraudulently issued about 144 company checks totaling more than $474,205 to herself, her creditors and other entities, the indictment stated. Cepek also allegedly falsified company records.
Additionally, she reportedly used company credit cards to buy shoes, clothes, fragrances, sunglasses and a purse, according to the indictment, before allegedly having statements mailed to her home and fraudulently issuing company checks to pay off the charges.
All counts carry a maximum fine of $250,000, Samborn said. Maximum sentences on the counts range as high as 20 years in prison.
Cepek also must pay restitution on the allegedly stolen funds, according to Samborn.
She will appear in U.S. District Court on July 3 for an arraignment.