Correctional Officers Plead Guilty To Theft Charges

Theft is a common crime. While many people see it as an act of stealing physical property, it may involve non-tangible goods as well. Theft refers to acquiring property through deceit, For example, many people fudge numbers on timesheets and other documents for monetary benefits.

On September 23, two correctional employees in Maryland pled guilty to various theft and misconduct charges. Both women worked at the Metropolitan Transition Center in Baltimore. Kimberly Brown pled guilty to felony theft scheme and misconduct charges, while Shantil Carter pled guilty to conspiracy to commit theft and bribery. In the past five months, six other correctional officers have faced similar charges.

Both women are accused of adding extra hours to their timesheets that were not worked. Carter implemented a scheme with other correctional officers, allowing them to access the Workday system through her personal information. This allowed the employees to illegally inflate their work hours. Carter then received several thousand dollars in payment.

Carter also inflated the work hours for another correctional officer on 163 occasions, which resulted in an overpayment of $33,858.00 from the State of Maryland. The correctional officer then paid Carter $4,910 for her role in the theft scheme.

Brown also inflated her own work hours on 31 occasions. She claimed 2,470 hours that were not worked, resulting in an overpayment of $79,857.69 from the State of Maryland.

Prosecutors are taking the theft charges seriously. All eight correctional officers have been ordered to pay restitution in an amount totaling $443,625.40.

Time Theft

When companies use timesheets, it’s easy for employees to engage in time card fraud. At first, workers may add a few minutes here and there. Then they may increase the additional time to an hour or two here and there.

When there is a time clock, time theft may also occur. An employee may punch in for a co-worker who has not yet arrived. Remote workers are more likely than in-person workers to engage in time card fraud, since their activities cannot be monitored throughout their shift. It is possible for them to start work later, take longer lunches, and log off early.

As seen in this case, companies can lose a lot of money by paying employees for time that they are not even working. By implementing various technologies and workplace policies, employers can ensure employees get paid only for hours worked.

Contact a Maryland Criminal Defense Attorney Today

Theft isn’t just stealing physical objects. It can occur in various ways, resulting in hundreds of thousands and even millions of dollars in losses for a company or government agency.

Theft can be a serious crime and even a felony, depending on the amount stolen. For a h5 legal defense, get help from the Columbia theft lawyers at The Law Offices of Todd K. Mohink, P.A. We can develop a h5 strategy to help you avoid a conviction. Fill out the online form or call (410) 774-5987 to schedule a consultation. We have two offices to serve you.

Resource:

baltimore.cbslocal.com/2021/09/26/correctional-employees-convicted-on-theft-charges-of-over-400000/