Mall manager charged with fraud

ALBERT LEA — A former Northbridge Mall promotions manager has been charged in Freeborn County District Court with making more than $11,000 in fraudulent purchases, transfers and withdrawals using the mall merchants association bank account.

Beth Ann Staser, 40, of Clarks Grove, faces one felony count of theft and one felony count of diverting corporate property tied to the allegations.

In court on Monday, Staser pleaded not guilty to both charges and requested a jury trial, waiving her right to a speedy trial. Lawyers anticipated the trial will last three days.

Court documents allege Staser’s inappropriate behavior took place from July to December 2009. The allegations were reported to police in January 2010 by the Northbridge Mall property manager.

As part of the investigation, police reviewed bank records, business records, copies of receipts and other items from the manager, which showed “numerous transactions” on the mall merchants association account that had no relation to Staser’s obligations.

According to court documents, some of the unauthorized purchases included two 32-inch high-definition TV sets, two DVD players, a printer, three cameras, memory cards, gift cards, a steam mop and a vacuum cleaner, among other items from Walmart.

Staser reportedly wrote more than $2,000 in checks payable to herself, none of which were authorized.

Bank records also showed a check written to a man for “website revision” for $540; however, the website was not revised, and the expense was not approved.

In addition, bank records allege that Staser wrote checks to her daughter and son-in-law that were not authorized. In the memo fields on the checks were phrases such as “reimbursement,” “fashion show consultant,” “computer repair” and “training.”

According to court records, Staser signed an agreement with the owner of the mall on July 20, 2009, at which time she agreed to pay expenses associated with the job, including car, travel, equipment, tools and supplies.

The owner agreed to provide telephone, fax and Internet service.

Reimbursement of any expenses incurred by Staser were only allowed with prior written approval of the owner. She was also not allowed to enter into a contract or subcontract on the owner’s behalf without the owner’s approval, documents continue.

In an interview on March 30, Staser reportedly told a police detective she is “horrible with her books,” and said she does not have a bank account.

She reportedly admitted to making the purchases and withdrawals but claimed she had the right to do so. She also reportedly claimed it was in her contract to hire others and did so in the case of her daughter and son-in-law to help out at the mall.

Documents state Staser acknowledged that she misled mall officials about her knowledge of website design and stated she needed to hire someone to help her.

She explained the purchase of two out of the three cameras as being replacements for a camera dropped at the mall and claimed she was told by the manager to start a petty cash account, though the manager denied this was the case, court documents allege.

Despite her claim that she didn’t have a bank account, Staser reportedly claimed that she used her personal debit card because they wouldn’t issue a debit card for corporate accounts, noting that she didn’t know where the debit card was from.

The manager made statements in a later interview with police that contradicted many of Staser’s comments.

The manager reportedly told police that she had never given Staser permission to hire people with the mall’s money and that Staser was supposed to use her own money if she needed to hire someone.

She reviewed the purchases allegedly made by Staser and reiterated that they were not authorized business expenses.

Each of Staser’s charges carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine.

SportsPlus

Mower County

County submits first project to FEMA for reimbursement related to June flooding

Crime, Courts & Emergencies

APD investigating crash into house, possible stolen vehicle

Business

86th annual profit sharing held at Hormel plant

Mower County

Celebrating Miracles: Display documenting Eucharistic miracles coming to Austin

News

Tim Walz accepts turkey presentation as he eases back into his duties as Minnesota’s governor

Business

Joseph Company receives construction industry award

Mower County

Zonta begins annual anti-violence campaign

News

Judge halts cannabis license lottery that is precursor to Minnesota marijuana retail launch

News

Lawsuit challenges Minnesota abortion access in federal court

News

Netanyahu says he supports proposed ceasefire with Lebanon’s Hezbollah

News

Biden proposes Medicare and Medicaid cover costly weight-loss drugs for millions of obese Americans

News

Repealing no-fault divorce has so far stalled across the US. Some worry that’ll change under Trump

News

Chuck Woolery, smooth-talking game show host of ‘Love Connection’ and ‘Scrabble,’ dies at 83

News

Research finds insecticide common in shallow ground water across Minnesota

News

Trump threatens to impose sweeping new tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China on first day in office

Mower County

Mayo Hospice to honor those who have died through Hospice Set Memories Aglow

Mower County

Paper authored by institute scientists sheds light that better understands colorectal cancer

Grand Meadow

Model railroad open house Dec. 7-8 in Grand Meadow

News

Special counsel moves to abandon election interference and classified documents cases against Trump

Business

Eight Good Samaritan Society nursing homes earn Best Nursing Home badge for 2025

Mower County

Red Kettle campaign is good for all involved

Business

Makers of JENNIE-O partners with NBC’s ‘The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon’ to donate turkeys this thanksgiving

Crime, Courts & Emergencies

Convictions: Nov. 11-18

Mower County

In Your Community: Cedars donates food to Salvation Army