HARRISBURG — Attorney General Dave Sunday announced charges against an Erie County woman who embezzled funds from an Erie County-based welding company where she managed company finances and diverted the money to her family’s wine business.
Krista Stempka, 44, of North East, was charged with theft by unlawful taking, theft by failure to make required disposition of funds received, access device fraud, and other related offenses. Her bail was set at $15,000. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for November 12.
An Office of Attorney General investigation revealed that Stempka transferred money from Advanced Welding Technologies accounts to Stempka Cellars — resulting in a $58,000 loss for the welding company.
“It is disgraceful to see a local business taken advantage of by an employee motivated by personal greed,” Attorney General Sunday said. “Stealing from anyone is wrong, but it is especially painful when the victims are family. I commend our Financial Crimes Section for uncovering this scheme and bringing charges to hold the defendant accountable.”
Upon Stempka’s termination from Advanced Welding Technologies, the owners (who were Stempka’s relatives) discovered multiple unauthorized money transfers between their company accounts and another business account. An investigation by the Office of Attorney General determined the funds had been transferred to Stempka Cellars, a wine business owned by Stempka, her husband, and her mother-in-law.
Stempka later transferred some money back, but the company ultimately suffered a net loss of more than $58,000.
Agents found numerous payments made to Visa accounts associated with Stempka Cellars, as well as evidence that Stempka and her husband charged personal expenses to those same accounts.
This case is being prosecuted by Senior Deputy Attorney General Heather Serrano of the Financial Crimes Section. Criminal charges, and any discussion thereof, are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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