Versailles woman pleads guilty to fraud scheme

A Versailles, Mo., woman pleaded guilty yesterday to a fraud scheme in which she stole nearly $400,000 from her employer.

Tammy Dickinson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that Abbie Martin Stemper, 43, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of bank fraud.

Stemper worked at Smith Paper & Janitor Supply from spring 2009 to February 2015, when she was fired. She was a bookkeeper and purchasing agent.

With the guilty plea, Stemper admitted to embezzling $397,122 from SP&JS and one of its subsidiaries over a period lasting from June 2010 to February 2015.

According to a release, Stemper agreed to sell SP&JS products to customers. Payments for these products came via cash, check or PayPal, and were sent to accounts owned or controlled by Stemper. The payments totaled $233,806, and aside from $688, Stemper never reimbursed SP&JS for the products.

Stemper also admitted to stealing cash and creating false refunds for various customers. She directed the refunds directly to her personal debit cards.

During her time at SP&JS, Stemper also altered the company’s Amazon account profile so withdrawals from the account would be deposited to her personal bank account.

In October 2013, Smith Paper & Janitor Supply acquired White Castle Service and Supply, another company selling cleaning and janitor supplies. Stemper admitted to intercepting and stealing customer checks and depositing them into her personal account.

Stemper faces up to 30 years in prison without parole for each count. Her sentencing date will be decided after a presentence investigation is finished.

The FBI, Missouri State Highway Patrol and Eldon Police Department investigated the case.