West Plains, MO. – A West Plains woman is currently on bond after being arrested for forgery and stealing over $50,000 from a local company. Makenzie Smith, age 23 of West Plains, was arrested on September 19, 2022 and charged with 11 counts of Forgery and Stealing $25,000 or more, all felonies, for actions committed while working for Wiley Fence Company.
According to the probable cause statement, Smith was employed with the company for 18 months. During this time, it was found that she had accessed the company’s business system, been forging and/or duplicating multiple payroll checks, and non payroll checks to herself, credit card fraud, the theft and usage of a company fuel card, and other potential incidents of theft from the company.
The company owners had discovered Smith had duplicated payroll checks to herself 35 times and forged payroll checks, all made to herself, another 32 times. The amount that has been discovered stolen so far totals $51,612.42.
A bond hearing is scheduled for Monday, October 3, 2022 at the Howell County Courthouse.
