Former Monroe Co. Correctional Center official charged with stealing $264K
MONROE COUNTY, Ind. (WISH) — A former administrative coordinator for the Monroe County Correctional Center was arrested Friday morning for stealing more than $260,000 from the county’s cash bond fund, according to U.S. Attorney Josh Minkler.
Karen S. Bridges, 45, of Mitchell, Indiana, faces federal charges of fraud and embezzlement after allegedly stealing $264,000 from the Monroe County Cash Bond Fund, which is used for the receipt of jail bonds.
“The citizens of Monroe County deserve much better from their public servants,” said Minkler. “Ms. Bridges used public funds as her personal checking account and now will be held accountable.”
Bridges worked as administrative coordinator from 1996 to June 2015. She oversaw the cash bond account that she is accused of stealing from, according to Minkler.
“The cash bond account is used as a pass through account for the receipt of inmate bond funds which are later disbursed to the Monroe County Clerk of the Courts,” a media release announcing Bridges’ arrest explained. “When an individual appears at the Monroe County Jail to pay a bond for an inmate’s release, they pay with cash, a money order or a pre-established GPS account. Envelopes with the bond payments were placed in a locked safe, which Bridges had access to.”
To hide the embezzlement scheme, Bridges allegedly submitted false invoices claiming to be from Advanced Correctional Healthcare, which provides health care to jail inmates. Some of the invoices were for work that had not been completed, according to Minkler.
“When ACH discovered the overpayments from Monroe County, it sent refunds to Bridges’ attention at the Monroe County Correctional Facility,” the media release explained. “The refunds from ACH were deposited into the Cash Fund Bond account to cover the shortages that resulted from her embezzlement.”
If convicted, Bridges could face up to 20 years in prison.
