Woman arrested for allegedly embezzling over $26k from construction company
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IDAHO FALLS — A 45-year-old woman has been charged after her former employer claimed she embezzled over $26,000.
Amanda M. Gunderson was charged with felony fraud criminal possession of a financial transaction card or number to purchase goods or services, and felony grand theft.
According to court documents, on March 29, 2023, Edge Construction and Concrete LLC hired Gunderson as a bookkeeper.
In October, a company business representative began suspecting that money was missing from a Citizens Community Bank account.
The representative contacted an accounting firm, Poston, Denney, and Killpack, to investigate her suspicions.
The accounting firm gave law enforcement two QuickBooks documents they had created.
The first showed 11 payments to Gunderson totaling $12,330. These payments began on April 5, 2023, and ended on Sept. 5, 2023. According to police reports, those payments were legitimate as part of Gunderson’s salary.
The second document showed 16 payments to Gunderson, totaling nearly $18,910. Court documents say these payments were embezzled money.
The accounting firm told law enforcement that these payments began on Jan. 1, 2023, and ended on Aug. 5, 2023. This reportedly shows the dates had been modified because Gunderson started her job with the company in March.
Court documents say Gunderson had access to the payroll system and had “the ability to generate the 16 fraudulent payments in question.”
On Feb. 28, a Bonneville County Sheriff’s detective contacted Gunderson, who said she wanted to obtain an attorney before talking to law enforcement about the missing money.
Gunderson did not get back in contact with the detective, and a search warrant was ordered for Gunderson’s bank account.
According to the detective, more fraudulent transactions were found in Gunderson’s bank account, bringing the alleged total of embezzled money to $26,626.
A warrant was issued for Gunderson’s arrest on Tuesday, and she appeared in court for an initial appearance on Wednesday. She was given a bond of $20,000 and posted bail to be released on Wednesday.
Gunderson is expected to appear for a preliminary hearing on Aug. 20. If convicted, she could face up to 19 years in prison.
Though Gunderson has been charged with these crimes, it does not necessarily mean she committed them. Everyone is presumed innocent until they are proven guilty.