Manufacturer sues ex-bookkeeper

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A Seymour company has sued its former bookkeeper in connection with more than a half-million dollars in missing funds.

In the lawsuit recently filed in Jackson Superior Court I, officials with EngineAir Inc., 927 N. Shields Ave., contend Angela Kincaid wrote company checks and deposited them into her accounts over a period of five months.

Kincaid, who lives in Seymour, could not be reached for comment.

The missing funds were discovered May 18 during a transfer of money to pay a vendor, according to court documents. The total missing was not less than $500,500 between Aug. 7 and May 15.

The lawsuit contends Kincaid used a series of forgeries and bookkeeping techniques to disguise her activity.

Allegations made in a lawsuit are the opinion of the person filing them and can be refuted at trial.

Seymour attorney Jeffrey J. Lorenzo, who is representing the company, confirmed a criminal investigation is underway by the FBI but that federal agency declined to comment about the investigation.

The lawsuit also names Lonny Kincaid, Angela’s husband, who may be a joint owner on the account where the missing funds were deposited. Centra Credit Union also is listed on the complaint because Kincaid held an account through that financial institution, according to court documents.

At this time, no criminal charges have been filed against either Kincaid, and they have not been arrested.

The complaint for injunctive relief and damages was filed with Jackson Superior Court I on May 22.

William Stevens, president of the company, was alerted to the company’s checking account balance of $2,000 when it should have been $178,000, according to court documents.

Stevens, who said he could not talk about the lawsuit because of the investigation, immediately requested his principal accountant out of Chicago to evaluate the balance. That’s when it was discovered that more than $500,000 of EngineAir funds were missing, according to court records.

It also was discovered that over the course of 10 months, 101 checks were written by Angela Kincaid on a company checking account, and they were deposited into other accounts she either owns or controls.

The company filed to have Angela Kincaid’s bank account at Centra Credit Union to be frozen. A temporary restraining order also was filed against her, which was not granted.

EngineAir, which began operations in 1988, provides remanufactured and selected new engine components for EMD and GE locomotives.

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