Aurora woman indicted for $250K embezzlement

An Aurora woman was indicted by a federal jury for writing counterfeit checks and mail fraud related to an embezzlement scheme of more than $250,000, according to a news release from Beth Phillips, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri.

Diana Erickson, 45, was charged in a 16-count indictment, which was made and sealed by a federal grand jury in Springfield on Sept. 1. The indictment was made public Sept. 23 after Erickson's initial court appearance.

The indictment alleges that Erickson embezzled $219,606 from Superior Lifts between Sept. 7, 2006, and April 2, 2008, and $34,242 from Goolsby Rental Properties between March, 14, 2006, and Dec. 18, 2006. Erickson was employed as a bookkeeper at Superior Lifts - formerly of Aurora and now out of business - and at Goolsby Rental Properties, which was managed by the Superior Lifts owners, according to the release.

Erickson is charged with three counts of forged checks related to Goolsby Rental Properties and 13 counts of mail fraud related to Superior Lifts. In both cases, Erickson allegedly deposited money into her own bank account, the release said.

The case is being prosecuted by Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Oliver, and it was investigated by the FBI, the IRS-Criminal Investigation, the Aurora Police Department and the Lawrence County Prosecuting Attorney's Office.[[In-content Ad]]