SBJ sues former office manager for theft

SBJ Publishing Inc., dba Springfield Business Journal, has filed suit against its former office manager, alleging the employee stole funds during a more than two-year period.

SBJ has alleged that Jennie Tritch, who worked for the company April 2006-Jan. 3, converted $97,521 in company funds for personal use, according to documents filed last week in Greene County Circuit Court.

The suit claims Tritch engaged in the scheme August 2009-Dec. 31, 2011.

Upon her termination Jan. 3, Tritch signed a statement authorized by KPM CPAs PC, according to SBJ Publisher Jennifer Jackson. In the statement,
Tritch admitted to stealing $80,000 or more from SBJ by writing and or depositing payroll checks for amounts in excess of what was due to her. She goes on to admit she made the checks payable to herself or her husband, Mike Tritch, for medical expenses and other personal expenses.

In the statement, now part of the court record, Tritch said she concealed the theft by recording the checks as payments to vendors but making them out to herself or her husband. The payments were purposely recorded incorrectly on the company books, Tritch said in the statement.

Tritch has agreed to pay full restitution. According to court records, she had paid $3,193 in restitution as of Sept. 18.

Jackson filed embezzlement charges against Tritch July 20 with the Springfield Police Department, which is currently investigating the case, Jackson said.