By: Mike Koury | Woodward Talk | Published February 8, 2023
BERKLEY — A St. Clair Shores woman has been arrested for allegedly embezzling many thousands of dollars from her former place of employment.
Kimberly Monette, 38, was arrested Jan. 18 by the Berkley Public Safety Department for allegedly embezzling more than $200,000 from a dental practice from 2015 to 2022.
According to Berkley police, a local dentist came to the Public Safety Department in May 2022 to file a complaint against Monette, who had worked at the practice for 20 years. He told investigators that, since January 2015, she allegedly had embezzled approximately $210,000 from him and the practice.
Berkley Public Safety Detective Lt. Andrew Hadfield stated that police looked into payroll and credit card charges from the business’s account and noticed “considerable discrepancies” between what Monette should have been making and what Monette was actually taking home.
“(She was) altering the records to make it look like they should have earned more between vacation time and pay than what was allotted,” he said.
Police stated that Monette allegedly embezzled money from fraudulent use of credit cards. There also were issues with payrolls where she allegedly gave herself extra pay, additional pay increases, added vacation hours, altered hours worked and gave herself bonuses not earned.
Monette allegedly shredded evidence, such as bank statements and account information, and it was witnessed and reported by other employees, according to police.
From what police reviewed, Hadfield said there were issues with vacation time, as it should have showed the suspect, Monette, cashed in and collected more than what had been earned.
“It was also noticed that there was an increase in the actual pay to the employee for hours that were over their actual working hours,” he said. “Those two initial things started just going month by month for seven years to look back to see how much difference there was. There was also the credit card statements where numerous personal items were purchased and shipped directly to the person’s home that were not for the actual doctor’s office.”
Monette was arrested and arraigned on Jan. 18 in the 44th District Court. She was charged with embezzlement of $100,000 or more and embezzlement of $50,000 or more but less than $100,000.
Monette’s next court date is scheduled for 8:46 a.m. Feb. 24. Her attorney, James Earl King Jr., could not be reached for comment before press time.