Calgary bookkeeper charged in $400K embezzlement

Calgary police have charged a bookkeeper who allegedly embezzled approximately $400,00 while working for a commercial irrigation company.

From January 2021 to May 2023, investigators say the woman worked at the company where she was entrusted with access to the company’s funds.

During this time, it’s believed she wrote false invoices for work, deposited fraudulent cheques, used a company credit card for personal purchases, and withdrew cash from corporate bank accounts.

The company was sold in April 2023, and during the sale process, financial discrepancies came to light when important financial documents were being withheld by the woman, police say.

This raised concerns for the current owner, who then thoroughly reviewed all financial documents.

Based on those documents, the owner suspected the bookkeeper was engaging in fraud and reported it to police.

Laura Hunt is charged with one count of fraud over $5,000, one count of theft over $5,000, one count of identity theft, one count of falsification of books and documentation, two counts of theft or forgery of a credit card, one count of unauthorized use of a credit card, and one count of use of a forged document.

The 60-year-old is scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday, May 1.

Investigators encourage businesses that have lost money as a result of fraud to report it to police via the non-emergency line at 403-428-1234.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact police at 403-266-1234 or tip anonymously through CrimeStoppers.