An Evans woman has been charged with theft by conversion after she allegedly stole more than $200,000 from her employer.
According to a Columbia County Sheriff’s Office incident report, deputies responded to 485 Columbia Industrial Blvd. on Sept. 7, after Janie Robertson, owner of Robertson Investments, Inc., discovered what she called fraudulent accounts and transactions.
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Robertson Investments, Inc., owns Bee Line Medical and Ice Guys, according to Robertson.
Robertson told deputies that employee Jennifer Dawn Jones, 50, of Evans, was usually in charge of accounting but had been out sick with COVID. In Jones’ absence, Robertson had to fill in. It was then that she discovered the fraud.
“She was creating false companies that we buy our supplies from and was actually paying her rent, all her bills and credit cards,” Robertson said.
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Robertson also indicated that many of the bills were in the name of Jones’ husband – Brett Jones.
“She claims he (Jones’ husband) didn’t know anything about it,” Robertson said. “I don’t know the truth about that.”
The incident report indicated that the alleged fraudulent transactions date as far back as far as 2017.
“She admitted to everything,” Robertson said.
Jones and her husband arrived on the scene while deputies were speaking with Robertson. According to the incident report, Jones said she already knew why the sheriff’s office was there, and she was ready to talk.
“According to the victim, over $200,000 was embezzled,” said Major Steve Morris with the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office.
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Robertson said she is still investigating, and the number may be much higher as Jones had access to several different businesses and accounts belonging to Robertson.
Aside from the crime itself, Robertson said this has been a particularly devastating discovery on a personal level as well.
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“She was my best friend. We took her on vacations and to Thanksgiving. We made her part of our family,” Robertson said. “She conned us all.”
Jones was released on a $10,100 bond.
Jones stated that she felt someone alerted the media to start a smear campaign against her. She refused to comment further.
Anna Porzio is a Correspondent with The Augusta Press. Reach her at anna@theaugustapress.com.
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