Warrant: Ex-employee took $257K
Meleah Beth Landers, the former practice manager at West Rome Animal Clinic, turns herself in at the jail Thursday.
The former practice manager for West Rome Animal Clinic turned herself in at the jail Thursday afternoon after being accused of taking over $257,000 from her employer.
According to Floyd County Jail reports:
Meleah Beth Landers, 40, of 66 Mango Road, turned herself in at the jail just before 5 p.m. Thursday. She is charged with felony theft by taking by fiduciary. She was in jail without bond Thursday night.
The thefts date back to Jan. 1, 2010, and they went on through Oct. 10, totaling $257,391.29, according to a warrant for her arrest issued Thursday. The warrant stated she violated the fiduciary obligation of her position by taking the money, but it does not indicate how she took it.
Dr. Dan Pate, a veterinarian and owner of the clinic, said Landers was a 20-year employee and as practice manager had worked very closely with the finances. She was in charge of human resources and personnel, along with paying the bills, working with accounts receivable and helping those who needed financing, he continued.
About three months ago, Pate said he found his clinic at 2012 Shorter Ave. was missing a “significant” amount of money.
A drug company had called around this time and told Pate his clinic owed an excess of $100,000 to them.
As he looked into his clinic’s finances in September, he began to discover abnormalities and felt an audit was necessary.
The case was then turned over to the Rome Police Department, which began a threemonth investigation that resulted in Landers being taken into custody Thursday.
“It is very disappointing because she was a friend and what I thought was a valued employee,” Pate said. “And I did not realize what was going on.”
Pate said it’s in the hands of the court now and he’s left to see what will be decided.
“We had worked together for a long time, and whenever something like this happens it’s very saddening and it’s disheartening and hurtful.”