A former bookkeeper for the Eden Prairie Bobby and Steve’s Auto World has been charged with swindling more than $87,000 from the business over a two-year period.
Kim Marie Harris, 53, of Waverly, Minnesota, has been summoned to appear in Hennepin County District Court. She remains free without bail. If convicted of the felony theft by swindle charge, she could face up to 20 years in prison and/or a $100,000 fine.
According to the complaint:
The owner of Bobby and Steve’s, located at 8100 Flying Cloud Drive, reported the thefts to Eden Prairie police in 2022, claiming that Harris had been stealing money from the company and only discovered the theft after she left the company in late 2021. Harris had worked at the Eden Prairie location since 2018.
Harris reportedly was responsible for all financial transactions at the location, including payroll, accounts receivable, accounts payable, counting cash, and making cash bank deposits.
The company’s internal investigation found that there were approximately 88 individual instances of theft from Jan. 1, 2020, to Dec. 1, 2021. The total loss in 2020 is estimated at $54,463.54. The total from 2021 is estimated at $32,691.27, bringing the total loss to $87,154.81.
The company determined that many of the cash deposits Harris made did not match amounts actually deposited in the bank account, and some deposits were never made. Using QuickBooks, Harris allegedly recorded deposits in the program but would not deposit that amount. She is also accused of creating fictional transactions.
While Harris was employed, management only monitored the QuickBooks files and not bank statements, according to the complaint. Harris was the only employee with access to the bank account and for completing all cash deposits.
According to the complaint, bank records also show that Harris deposited approximately $10,485 in cash into her personal bank account from Jan. 24, 2020, to Dec. 13, 2021.
Investigators also learned that the apartment complex where Harris lived would no longer accept rent payments by check in 2019 because too many were being returned due to insufficient funds. She then began paying in cash until February 2022, when she resumed paying by check.
Between Jan. 1, 2020, and Dec. 20, 2021, Harris allegedly paid more than $35,000 in cash for rent. Bobby and Steve’s employees also reported that Harris had purchased vehicles for her son and purchased a camper.
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