Police say CalsonicKansei worker admits embezzlement

Friday, July 18, 2008
By David Melson

An employee of CalsonicKansei North America's business office allegedly embezzled more than $60,000 during a period of at least two years, Shelbyville police said Thursday.

Yolanda Danette Johnson, 44, of Lewisburg, admitted to altering company checks and making them payable to herself, Detective Brian Crews said. The total amount allegedly embezzled is still uncertain, but Crews says it is at least $60,000.

Johnson was charged Monday with theft of property over $60,000, Crews said, and was fired by Calsonic. She is free on $100,000 bond, Bedford County Jail records show.

"Members of Calsonic Human Resources contacted me and Lt. Mathis and reported suspicious activity on one of their accounts," Crews said. "They requested that we conduct an investigation into possible embezzlement by Yolanda Johnson. Johnson worked in the accounts payable department and had access to outgoing checks to businesses that did work for CalsonicKansei.

"During the course of her employment with Calsonic it was discovered that Johnson fabricated invoices and altered checks, making them payable to herself, and then deposited the proceeds into her personal checking accounts. After preliminary investigation, it is believed that Johnson acted alone and was the only one who benefited in the proceeds."

The embezzlement began at least as far back as March 2006, Crews said, and is suspected to have begun earlier.

"She admitted to altering the invoices and checks and depositing the money into her accounts at First Farmers (First Farmers and Merchants Bank of Lewisburg) and Heritage South Community Credit Union. She described how she was able to commit the offenses."

Detective Sgt. Jason Williams was also involved in the investigation, Crews said.

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Good Gracious!

Now, please! give my husband and others their $1.00 per hour raise back that you took away (to pay this ofc worker more per hour no doubt!)

Sour grapes? yes!

-- Posted by countrymom on Fri, Jul 18, 2008, at 10:36 AM

My wife works there and has had 2 promotions and never a raise or increase in her wages.

-- Posted by Evil Monkey on Fri, Jul 18, 2008, at 1:52 PM

Wasn't this posted on another website 4 days ago?

I've had a belly full of this kind of management,

(35 Years).

-- Posted by framestraight on Fri, Jul 18, 2008, at 5:55 PM

Their was stealing from Calsonic by upper management over 10 years ago when I worked their. We (employees) use to be able to come up with money saving plans to save the company money back then and would get paid a small percent for it; It all stopped when they found out someone in upper management stold LARGE AMOUNTS of money from them. It is very sad how such a place that use to be well organized, with happy employees turn out to be a stressful, unhappy, cheating/stealing, unstabble place to work at. Nothing like it use to be. Jim Bachelor was very good for calsonic and they done him, Gene, and a few others wrong. (IMO)

-- Posted by Momof3&3step&1gran on Fri, Jul 18, 2008, at 7:49 PM

How sad this is that she had to steal all that money...I hope to goodness that she saved it all and will give it back to them.( I am sure she didn't). I just do not see how she could go home at night and sleep and not worry that she would not get caught...I wonder why the bank did not pick up on this...I feel very sorry for her...I guess when she got by with a little at 1st then she just started wanting more and more....It seems like if she was married her husband would wonder were all the extra money was coming from...

-- Posted by rebelrose on Fri, Jul 18, 2008, at 8:35 PM

Oh my goodness! I dealt with this woman the other day at Wal-Mart! I had to see her ID for verification, and was wondering if she was realated to a young woman I know with the same last name.

ooooooowwww....creepy!

-- Posted by Mary on Fri, Jul 18, 2008, at 9:30 PM

rebelrose- This woman did not have to steal all that money and no one should feel sorry for her. She made a choice to do wrong and she should pay for that bad choice to the fullest extent of the law. Most of us work hard to make an honest living and then to see someone like that steal, makes me sick. She is probably very remorseful now that she was caught, but would she be if she hadn't been.

-- Posted by cookie on Sat, Jul 19, 2008, at 4:36 PM

hhhmmm you are so right!

She must have watched the movie, "Mad Money"; but didn't have the luck they did in the end.

-- Posted by Momof3&3step&1gran on Sat, Jul 19, 2008, at 9:00 PM

I agree with Momof3 I have heard of other large thefts there of money and materials. Maybe some cover up. A friend in their accounting department says they have to many managers and no one communicates so I can see where it would be easy for this to happen. By the way, who was supposed to be overseeing the accounting department? How many upper manager types have been fired for not knowing what was going on in their own department? I guess there is just to much talking and having a good time to worry about business.

-- Posted by StilSaine2008 on Mon, Jul 21, 2008, at 9:47 PM

I can't believe the Calsonic management figured out anyone was embezzling money! The place is poorly managed and disorganized. The upper management from North America does a very poor job there, I feel sorry for the hourly employees and some of the Supervisors. It is really a sad situation that a company that has so much potential is being so poorly managed. Ms. Johnson made a very poor choice to commit a crime, she probably thought they would never figure it out either.

-- Posted by OMGICANT on Tue, Jul 29, 2008, at 6:42 PM

-- Posted by noprofitckna..right on Wed, Jul 30, 2008, at 6:54 AM