By Staff
LANSING - Attorney General Mike Cox announced Sept. 26 the arrest of a former state Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) employee for embezzling more than $400,000 from the department and related tax fraud.
Cox also charged her husband and son on related tax fraud charges.
Cox alleges that Sandra May Wentworth, 47, of Lansing, used a state credit card issued to her in her capacity as a buyer and manager for the DMVA to charge more than $400,000 in illegal purchases between 2001 and 2004.
The purchases allegedly included a plasma television, equipment for her family-owned bowling alley business, personal exercise equipment and furniture for her home.
The Michigan State Police Major Case Team investigated the charges after DMVA officials became suspicious of some of Sandra Wentworth's purchases.
She resigned from the department in July of 2004.
MSP investigators arrested Sandra Wentworth and her son, Eric Robert Krause, 24, of Lansing on Thursday.
Wayne Leroy Wentworth, 56, of Lansing, turned himself in to investigators on Friday.
Magistrate Jane Clarke arraigned Sandra Wentworth Friday in Clinton County's 65A District Court on three counts of embezzlement - $20,000 or more, a 10-year felony; one count of embezzlement - less than $20,000, a five-year felony; and there counts of tax fraud - failure to file/false return, a five-year felony.
Magistrate Clarke set Wentworth's bond at $20,000/10 percent and she will be back in court Oct. 6 for a preliminary examination.
Judge Amy Krause arraigned both Wayne Wentworth and Krause Friday on three counts of tax fraud-failure to file/false return, a five-year felony.
Judge Krause gave each a $25,000 personal recognizance bond. They will be back in court for a preliminary examination on Oct. 7.
A criminal charge is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.