Duncan Bookkeeper Accused of Massive Fraud
A sunny day in Duncan turned cloudy for a theatrical distribution company, as a federal indictment was unsealed this week, revealing that a former bookkeeper allegedly swindled more than $1.6 million.
Former employee Jennifer Cook is now facing three counts of wire fraud, accused of having stolen from SSRC Inc., a Duncan-based firm known for producing theatrical distribution gear. Its customers range from Las Vegas show venues to the whimsical halls of Disney World.
The accusations claim Cook had been stealing from the company over a span of nearly a decade, starting from December 2014, all the way to June 2024. Her legal proceeding is due later this month, and she has yet to enter a plea.
A Long Trail of Fraud Accusations
According to the indictment, Cook allegedly used the company’s bank account to pay off her credit card bills and gave herself additional, unauthorized paychecks. It also claimed that she wrote checks to herself from the company’s funds without permission, depositing the money into her personal bank account.
Even more bewildering, she attempted to cover up her actions by listing these checks as void in the company’s ledger, or even registered them as paid to other employees or vendors in their QuickBooks tracking system.
The company finally discovered the alleged misconduct when an unauthorized check, made out to Cook and signed by her, came to the president’s attention. Shocked by the magnitude of the missing money, he promptly contacted the authorities who referred him to the FBI because of the scale of theft. Recounting the situation, Aaron Clark, President of SSRC Inc., stated, “It’s been the worst thing that’s ever happened to me in my entire life.”
Beyond the Legal Battle
The case’s consequences have stretched further than just the legal constraints, forcing Clark to become the sole person able to sign checks at the company. With about 20 workers under his management, the president had to juggle his day-to-day operations while grappling with the financial aftermath left by the alleged theft.
Justice to Await
The defense for Cook said they are waiting on the legal discovery process to unfold. Now, federal prosecutors are looking to seize Cook’s home in Greer and collect around $1.7 million through forfeiture if she is convicted.
This ordeal has been a taxing journey for the company and its president. Nonetheless, they remain resilient after the financial backlash, with Clark expressing his gratitude for the help and support received during the recovery. Despite the harrowing experience, Clark found a silver lining, saying, “It’s better now than it was, and I’m thankful, but it’s taken a tremendous amount of work.”
Highlights:
– West Duncan’s theater product supplier, SSRC Inc, was reportedly defrauded of over $1.6 million over a decade by ex-bookkeeper, Jennifer L. Bengston Cook.
– Jennifer faces three counts of wire fraud as per a federal indictment.
– Prosecutors could seize Cook’s property and seek roughly $1.7 million through forfeiture should she be convicted.
