An
Elk City woman has been arrested on embezzlement charges following an
investigation into fraudulent activity involving forged checks and
unauthorized credit card charges.
According
to a probable cause affidavit, 63-year-old Jo Elaine Earnest was
taken into custody at her residence on November 20 after admitting to
misusing funds.
The
investigation began on November 10 when a local business owner
reported suspicious financial transactions. The owner discovered that
Earnest, a former employee, had allegedly forged multiple checks and
made unauthorized charges to a company credit card, totaling
thousands of dollars. Surveillance footage confirmed Earnest’s
involvement, showing her cashing a fraudulent check at a local
grocery store.
Evidence
revealed that Ernest had charged $12,000 to a credit card and
withdrawn approximately $6,000 from company accounts. When
interviewed by police, Earnest admitted to the embezzlement and
stated that the funds had been spent at a casino and on
methamphetamine.
Earnest
was arrested and transported to the Beckham County Jail, and bond was
set at $20,000. Authorities are continuing their investigation, and
additional charges may be filed as an internal audit uncovers further
discrepancies.
