Crime & Safety

Worker Accused of Embezzling $36,000 from Oakdale Company

Samantha Jane Aune, of Lino Lakes, is a former bookkeeper at Decks by Joe.

A Lino Lakes woman who worked as a secretary, bookkeeper and office manager at an Oakdale business faces a felony charge after she allegedly diverted thousands of dollars from the company’s accounts into her own.

Samantha Jane Aune, 25, had been employed at Decks by Joe since September 2011 and was given power to sign checks on behalf of the company in April 2012, according to the criminal complaint.

Owners then began noticing inconsistencies in their books and hired an outside firm to look into the matter. The firm notified ownership that there were unaccounted for losses and possible thefts, according to the complaint.

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In June 2012 Aune was fired from Decks by Joe, which turned over bank statements to Oakdale investigators who in turn asked another outside firm to look at the books.

That firm provided Oakdale police with a detailed breakdown of money that was transferred from the company’s account into Aune’s, the complaint says. The total was $36,820.

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If convicted, Aune faces up to 20 years in prison and a $100,000 fine on the theft-divert corporate property charge.

 


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