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Office manager charged in checks scheme
By Times Staff Writer
Published May 21, 2005
TAMPA - A 43-year-old Valrico man has been charged with stealing at least $150,000 from his employer by writing checks to himself and depositing them into his account.
Michael Hughes, the accountant and office manager for Southern Heritage Neighborhoods in Valrico, altered the books after writing himself checks and depositing them into his account, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.
He then opened up a post office box under his name and the business name and began routing the bank statements to the post office box to hide the fraudulent checks, the Sheriff's Office said.
Hughes forged his signature to write about three unauthorized checks a month ranging from $3,500 to $6,000 each, the Sheriff's Office said. Detectives researched the business' records for 2004 and 2005, finding $150,000 stolen, but they still need to research 2003, officials said.
Hughes was already in the county jail on a charge of violating probation out of South Carolina for embezzlement, and was charged Friday with grand theft and organized scheme to defraud.
He was being held in jail Friday night with no bail.
[Last modified May 21, 2005, 01:02:05]
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