APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – A former bookkeeper at a title business who stole more than $300,000 from the company was sentenced Monday to two years in prison.
Stacey Gersmehl, 51, was also placed on extended supervision for three years by Judge Jeffrey Wisnicky after her conviction on one count of theft in a business setting.
Restitution of $326,775.18 was requested, although insurance covered much of it. The judge ordered Gersmehl to pay at least $19,282.63, with another hearing Feb. 6 to determine the final amount.
Before the sentence was issued, Gersmehl apologized to “everybody I hurt.”
According to the criminal complaint, in December 2021, the owners of Fox Cities Title Company noticed Gersmehl paid herself an additional $500 for six pay periods. She was fired.
Further examination of the books showed money missing dating back as far as 2012, and discovered a bank account the company did not authorize or know of.
“Sgt. Thao reports between the whole time period of August 2012 and December of 2021, Ms. Gersmehl embezzled approximately $334.684.29 from FCTC,” the complaint states.
“Ms. Gersmehl claimed that she had an under the table agreement with (the owner) which was not documented in any form, that she could deposit money into the subject Associated account on a monthly basis. Ms. Gersmehl said this was a monthly bonus of $2000 per month. Ms. Gersmehl claimed that (the owner) would deny there was ever such an agreement. Ms. Gersmehl was unable to provide any reason for this agreement. Additionally, she could not explain how the monthly average amount was so significantly higher than $2000 per month,” the complaint states.
The owner told police there was no agreement as Gersmehl described, and any bonus system would have been properly documented.
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