First Published 5 hours ago • Updated 4 hours ago

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/53895399-78/madsen-fraud-money-account.html.csp

A 39-year-old Bluffdale woman has been ordered to spend 46 months in prison after pleading guilty to a mail fraud and money laundering scheme that bilked about $1.3 million from her employer.

U.S. District Judge Ted Stewart handed down the sentence to Pamela Jane Madsen earlier this week, ordering the woman to pay $1.3 million in restitution in addition to serving prison time.

Madsen worked as a secretary at Murray-based Professional Painting Inc. from May 2000 to October 2010, according to court documents. Her job duties included filling out bank deposit slips for the commercial painting business.

In November 2007, Madsen opened a bank account with a slight variation to her employer’s name and started depositing checks into that account. She used the money deposited in the alternate account for personal expenses.

Madsen was investigated by special agents of the IRS-Criminal Investigation and later prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

She pleaded guilty in January to mail fraud and money laundering. Madsen must forfeit three snowmobiles and three four-wheelers she purchased as part of paying restitution, court documents state.

Following Madsen’s sentencing, Jeanne Killoran, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the IRS’ Las Vegas Field Office, said Madsen’s case shows the complexity of financial crimes.

"The role of IRS-Criminal Investigation becomes even more important in embezzlement and fraud cases due to the complex financial transactions that can take time to unravel," she said. "We have a duty to honest, law abiding citizens to track down those who use deceit and fraud to line their pockets with other people’s money. This sentence sends a clear message that individuals who engage in this type of financial fraud should know they will not got undetected and will be held accountable."