4:49 PM, Feb 24, 2011

http://www.wbir.com/news/article/158556/2/Knoxville-woman-admits-to-stealing-4-million-from-former-employee

A Knoxville woman accused of stealing more than $4 million dollars from her former employer pleaded guilty Thursday in federal court.

Leslie Janous, a former bookkeeper for Scan Carbon pleaded guilty to wire fraud and money laundering.

Investigators say she transferred money from the company to personal accounts, and created false bank statements in an effort to cover her trail.

As part of the plea agreement, Janous will forfeit two upscale homes, two luxury cars, two personal watercraft and dozens of pieces of expensive jewelry that investigators said were bought with the stolen funds.

Janous is scheduled to be sentenced on July 18th.  She could face up to 20 years in prison.