Clearwater woman busted writing over $710,000 in checks to herself from her company’s account

(Monika Hladik, booking photo, Image credit: Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office)

On March 15, Detectives assigned to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office’s Economic Crimes Unit arrested a Clearwater, Florida, after she wrote company checks totaling more than $710,000 to herself and then cashed those checks.

According to detectives, an investigation began in December 2022 after a complaint was received from the president of Inspecs USA, an eyewear manufacturing company in Palm Harbor. The president advised that their Managerial Accountant, 41-year-old Monika Hladik, had been writing company checks to herself and forging his signature. Detectives say Hladik had been employed with Inspecs USA for twelve years and was responsible for writing company checks and bringing them to the president for his signature.

They also advised Hladik was never authorized to sign checks or write any to herself. 

Throughout the course of the investigation, detectives learned Hladik wrote 232 checks to herself between 2016 and 2022 and deposited them into her Wells Fargo bank account. The checks were written for various amounts and totaled approximately $710,531.00. Detectives say Hladik also manipulated QuickBooks accounting entries to cover up the ongoing theft for several years.

On March 14, 2024, Hladik was arrested and charged with one count of Scheme to Defraud.  The Sheriff’s Office announced that their investigation of Hladik’s activities remains ongoing.

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(Source: Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office)

Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today
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