Embezzler Sentenced To More Than 10 Years

WHEATON, Ill. (STMW) -- A northwest suburban woman has been sentenced to more than 10 years in prison for stealing more than $1 million from a moving company where she was employed as controller.

Judge Robert Kleeman on Friday sentenced Tammy R. Weart to 11 1/2 years in prison after she pleaded guilty to one count of theft over $1 million, a Class X felony, and one count of continuing financial crimes enterprise, according to prosecutors.

Weart, 53, of 548 Anita St. in Des Plaines, admitted stealing more than $1 million from her former employer, Specialty Moving Systems Inc. of Glendale Heights, according to a release from the DuPage County State's Attorney's office.

From November 2003 through December 2009, Weart was employed as controller for the company. She admitted making unauthorized electronic transfers of money, known as automated clearinghouse transfers, from the company account to her own personal account, the release said.

In all, Weart made 96 transfers totaling $1.17 million, a scheme uncovered by an employee who was filling in for Weart while she was on a leave of absence. Company officials turned over their findings to the Glendale Heights police Department.

"For more than six years Tammy Weart took advantage of the trust placed in her by her former employer using company bank accounts as her own personal piggy bank," State's Atty. Robert Berlin said in the release.  "Her actions caused significant hardship to not only Specialty Moving Systems but to her fellow employees."

In addition to her prison sentence, Weart was ordered to pay full restitution to the company. By law, she must serve at least 50 percent of her sentence before being eligible for parole.

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2010. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)