A Wabaunsee County woman was sentenced Friday to 60 days in federal prison for embezzling from the Bio-Security Research Institute at Kansas State University, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said in a press release. In addition, she was ordered to pay $14,000 in restitution.
Linda Kay Miller, 51, Alma, Kan., pleaded guilty to three counts of interstate transportation of fraudulently altered securities. In her plea, she admitted the crimes took place while she worked as an office manager for the institute from August 2007 to January 2013. The institute receives grant money from the federal government to provide infectious disease research programs that address threats to plant, animal and human health.
Miller used her position to embezzle funds by diverting checks sent to the institute. She altered the checks to make herself either a payee or co-payee and deposited the proceeds into one of her personal bank accounts. The proceeds moved in interstate commerce as part of a process to clear and negotiate the checks. The plea identifies three checks Miller diverted: A check from the FSU Research Foundation in Tallahassee, Fla.; a check from the Frontline Healthcare Workers Safety Foundation in Atlanta, Ga.; and a check from J.M. Oconnor Inc., in Lenexa, Kan.
Grissom commended the FBI, the Kansas State University Police Department, the Wabaunsee County Sheriff’s Office and Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Hathaway for their work on the case.
