Fenton Area Woman Pleads Guilty To Embezzlement

St. Louis, MO – Elaine Lewis pleaded guilty to embezzling more than $300,000 from a church checking account, between 2009 and August 2013.

According to court documents, Elaine Lewis worked as a bookkeeper for the Lutheran Church of the Resurrection, located in St. Louis County, MO.  Between 2009 and August 2013, Lewis used a variety of schemes to embezzle more than $300,000 from the Church’s checking account at Bank of America.  Most of the funds were transferred and deposited into a Commerce Bank account associated with her family’s business -- Advanced Lock & Key, Inc. -- which was operated out her residence in Fenton, MO.  

ELAINE LEWIS, Fenton, MO, pled guilty to one felony count of mail fraud before United States District Judge Rodney W. Sippel.  Sentencing has been set for March 7, 2014.

Mail fraud carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and/or fines up to $250,000.  In determining the actual sentences, a Judge is required to consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide recommended sentencing ranges.  Lewis will also be required to pay full restitution.

This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Sunset Hills, MO, Police Department.  Assistant United States Attorney John Bodenhausen is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.