Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, June 10, 1995 TAG: 9506120024
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LAURENCE HAMMACK STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Short
Alison W. Mutispaugh, 32, pleaded guilty to three counts of embezzlement from Automated Data Systems Inc., a Peters Creek Road business that resells computer hardware, software and services.
Mutispaugh took the money by writing checks to herself - for as much as $1,900 at a time over six years - forging the name of a supervisor, and then destroying the canceled checks that came with the monthly bank statement, according to Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Joel Branscom.
Wes Gillock, president of Automated Data, said the embezzlement has had a "tremendous impact" on the business.
"She had a lot of schemes," Gillock said. "The girl was very bright, unfortunately."
The scheme was discovered in 1994, Branscom said, after a company official opened a bank statement while Mutispaugh was out sick and discovered the forged checks. Some checks still are missing, he said, and the total amount of money taken could go higher.
Lawyers are not certain what happened to the stolen money. Assistant Public Defender Roger Dalton said Mutispaugh had to pay off many of her husband's debts.
Dalton said there was some dispute about the exact amount of money taken. That issue likely will come up at a sentencing hearing, set for July 14.
After Roanoke Circuit Judge Diane Strickland accepted Mutispaugh's plea, Mutispaugh was returned to the city jail to await sentencing. She faces a maximum sentence of 60 years in prison.
by CNB