Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Lawrence Residents Named In Columbia Embezzlement Case

  Two Lawrence County residents have been indicted in connection with a recent Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) probe into suspected embezzlement at a Columbia industry.

  In the wake of the year long investigation, TBI officials allege that at least two of the five indicted, including the manager, embezzled sales profits from Alley-Cassetty Brick Company between 2005 and 2007. They allege that the individuals skimmed hundreds of thousands of dollars from the company by making brick sales, then pocketing a portion of the proceeds. They indicate that the individual thefts were of small sums, but that the numerous crimes took place over an extended period of time.

  As a result of the investigation, a Maury County Grand Jury returned indictments earlier this month against those suspected in the embezzlement scheme; Timothy Vantrease, of Columbia, and Markela Benefield, 61, of Columbia, as well as three employees indicted on charges of theft in excess of $60,000. Those include:  Jason Perry, 35, of Ethridge, Steve Castleberry, 41, of Columbia, and Zeke Swindle, 66, of Lawrenceburg. The latter three, officials said, are believed to have assisted in the embezzlement.

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