GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — Melissa Dowd, 58, from Monroe, Georgia, has been arrested and charged with embezzling more than $400,000 from her employer over several years.
According to the Gwinnett County Police Department, the investigation began in April after Dowd’s former employer reported the theft. Dowd allegedly forged checks and altered payroll records to steal large sums of money. She is accused of submitting false invoices for vendors, then modifying the checks to make herself the payee. This fraudulent scheme was carried out over 190 times.
Additionally, Dowd used her access to the company’s payroll system to double her salary and manipulated her W-2 forms to avoid taxes on the stolen funds.
Dowd was arrested on December 17 and faces multiple charges, including computer theft, computer forgery, theft by taking, and forgery in the third degree. She is currently being held in the Gwinnett County Jail.
The investigation is still ongoing, and authorities are encouraging anyone with information to contact Gwinnett County Police detectives at 770-513-5300. Anonymous tips can also be submitted through Crime Stoppers at 404-577-TIPS (8477) or online at www.stopcrimeATL.com. Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards for tips that lead to arrests and indictments.