Former Belle Fire Department secretary accused of embezzling more than $70,000
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The former secretary of the Belle Fire Protection District has been charged with a felony after she allegedly embezzled more than $70,000 from 2022-24.
Courtney Ann Abel, of Belle, was charged in Osage County with stealing more than $25,000. A criminal summons was issued on Tuesday. An arraignment is scheduled for 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 13.
According to the probable cause statement, deputies were called on March 2 to the Belle Fire Protection District for a report of stealing. The president of the BFPD board stated there were concerns about Abel stealing morning after the board was notified that bills were not being paid, the statement says.
Bank statements from Mid America Bank allegedly showed checks written by Abel to Abel and were cashed as payroll, court documents say. Credit card statements also allegedly showed charges to various businesses and PayPal accounts, the statement says. BCFPD does not do business with a PayPal account, the statement says.
Credit card statements allegedly showed that 89 charges totaling $70,630.04 were made to PayPal accounts that were registered with Abel’s Social Security number, court documents say. Her address was allegedly listed as a nonprofit business, the statement says.
