Kristin Turney, a 54-year-old woman from Catawba, South Carolina, has pleaded guilty to wire fraud after embezzling more than $1.7 million from her employer, a Charlotte-based company. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of North Carolina announced her guilty plea today in federal court.
Between 2016 and 2023, Turney exploited her position at the company, where she was responsible for managing financial operations such as bank accounts, payroll, accounts payable and receivable, and tax filings. This access allowed her to manipulate the company’s finances over a span of seven years without initially raising suspicion.
According to federal authorities, Turney used her control over the company’s bank accounts to write checks payable to herself, which she then deposited into accounts she controlled. In total, she made over 1,000 fraudulent deposits, stealing more than $1.7 million.
To cover up her fraudulent activity, Turney allegedly made false entries in the company’s accounting records and provided inaccurate information to the company’s tax preparer. She also misled the company’s owner and employees about the financial discrepancies, allowing her to continue her embezzlement undetected.
Turney reportedly used the stolen funds to support her personal lifestyle, including luxury shopping, mortgage payments, car payments, tuition for personal and family education, and vacations. These personal expenditures totaled hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The wire fraud charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentencing will take place at a later date.
Turney’s case highlights the risks of internal financial control weaknesses and the potential for employees in trusted positions to exploit their authority for personal gain.