NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEBRASKA STATE PATROL
www.nsp.state.ne.us
Contact: Deb Collins 402-479-4985
April 14, 2009

Phelps County Woman Charged With Embezzlement

(Lincoln, NE)- A nearly six month long investigation into the disappearance of more than $700,000.00 from a Holdrege based Irrigation Company has led to the arrest of an Atlanta, Nebraska woman on 15 counts of Felony Theft by Unlawful Taking, beginning in December of 1999.

On Tuesday, April 14, 2009, Phelps County Attorney Tim Hoeft charged 59-year-old Teresa Erickson of 1206 Dunbar, Atlanta, Nebraska, with 15 counts of Felony Theft by Unlawful Taking in connection with the alleged embezzlement from her former employer, Charles Sargent Irrigation Inc., of Holdrege, Nebraska.

In November 2008, Investigators with the Nebraska State Patrol working in conjunction with the Phelps County Attorney and the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office initiated an investigation into the disappearance of hundreds of thousands of dollars from the Holdrege based Irrigation Company.  An internal audit of the company discovered the missing funds.

Erickson had been employed as the Bookkeeper for Charles Sargent Irrigation for a period of 28 years beginning in 1980 through October 2008.  She was lodged on the charges in the Phelps County Corrections Facility.

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