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former bookkeeper at a Columbus, Ga. real estate company has been sentenced to 27 months in prison for embezzling over $450,000 from her employer. Lauren Eldridge, 38 of Pine Mountain, admitted to stealing the funds while working as an office manager and bookkeeper at Keller Williams Realty River Cities.

    Court documents revealed that staff noticed discrepancies in a bank account in October 2022, prompting an investigation into Eldridge's activities. After being questioned about the account transfers, she resigned from her position. A review of the company's accounts showed that nearly half a million dollars had been paid into Eldridge's personal American Express account between January 2017 and September 2022.

    Eldridge pleaded guilty to five counts of wire fraud in January and was ordered to pay over $450,000 in restitution to her former employer. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Eldridge used company funds to pay off her personal credit card balance every month, intending to repay the money when she first began taking it.

    The case highlights the impact of employee theft on businesses and their customers, with Acting U.S. Attorney C. Shanelle Booker stating that "fraud and theft will not be tolerated in the Middle District of Georgia."