Wabasha woman accused of stealing more than $250,000
Apr. 26—WABASHA, Minn. — A Wabasha woman is facing 30 charges related to funds that were taken from a business of which she is part owner, according to court records.
Kelly Anne McDonald, 57, of Wabasha, is facing 11 separate charges of corporate theft of property-greater than $5,000; 11 separate charges of identity theft-greater than $2,500; four separate charges of corporate theft of property-greater than $35,000; and four separate charges of identity theft-greater than $35,000.
According to court records:
On Nov. 17, 2023, the Wabasha County Sheriff's Office received a report of fraud related to a business in the county.
The business' owner and a witness found several transactions described as suspicious. The court document claims that transactions were made by another owner of the business.
The suspect, later identified as McDonald, controlled the business' online accounts and checkbook, according to the court document. The owner and a witness claim they noticed multiple transfers allegedly made by McDonald from the business accounts to accounts allegedly owned by McDonald or unknown accounts.
Investigators with the sheriff's office subpoenaed account information on business accounts and McDonald's accounts. The court document alleges that McDonald made dozens of transfers from the business' online accounts to one of her own online accounts.
"McDonald took funds that were paid into the Business's account and diverted those funds into her personal account without disclosing this to the Business and without the Business's permission," the court document alleges.
McDonald is accused of stealing a total of $263,400 from the business' online account from March 1, 2019, to Nov. 30, 2023.
A nationwide warrant has been issued for McDonald.
