Ex-law firm worker stole $500K to pay for medical bills, $40K boat and $55K vehicle
Originally accused of stealing more than $1 million from a suburban Chicago law firm during a six-year period, a former accounting department worker pleaded guilty on Friday to taking over $500,000.
Le Anna Kelty, 55, is expected to get between four and 15 years in prison when she is sentenced on the felony theft count in February.
Letters written to DuPage County judges on Kelty’s behalf said she stole to pay medical bills for her husband, the Daily Herald reports. However, the government alleged in court documents that she used stolen funds to pay for a $24,000 motorcycle, a $40,000 boat and a $55,000 pickup truck, the Chicago Tribune (reg. req.) reports.
The Associated Press, the Naperville Patch and WLS also have stories.
Earlier news coverage identified Freedman, Anselmo, Lindberg and Rappe as the law firm from which Kelty stole. It is now known as Anselmo, Lindberg and Oliver.
Prosecutors say Kelty stole from the firm between 2006 and 2013, when she left its employment. The thefts were discovered during an audit the following year.
After resigning her law firm job, Kelty worked for a flooring company and was charged and convicted of stealing from this former employer as well. She completed her prison sentence in that case in December.
See also:
ABAJournal.com: “Accused of stealing $1M from law firm, ex-accounting worker faces February trial”
