Sunday, November 22, 2009

Longtime bookeeper rips off Andy Williams

The former bookkeeper for one of Branson’s most well-known entertainers, Andy Williams, was charged with stealing and forgery last week in Taney County.

Fifty-four-year-old Dawn Cleveringa, of Branson, has been charged with one felony count of stealing and one felony count of forgery according to court documents filed on Nov. 18 in Taney County.

According to court documents, Cleveringa appropriated currency from the Moon River Theatre, for the purposes of personal gain.

The report stated she drew excessive payroll and bonus payments, issued company checks to herself and payed her personal credit card debt by issuing checks to her credit card companies.

The total amount taken was $686,203.78.

Cleveringa was also charged with the class C felony crime of forgery by allegedly having the purpose to defraud the Moon River Theatre and Andy and Bobby Williams.

Cleveringa allegedly authenticated checks from the Moon River account at the Ozark Mountain Bank on at least four occasions. The four checks totaled $20,000 and all four were allegedly forged with Andy Williams’ or Bobby Williams’ signatures.

Cleveringa was arrested by the Branson Police Department on Nov. 18 and was later transferred to Taney County Jail where she is being held under a $40,000 bond.

Cleveringa was terminated by the management of Moon River Enterprises in April of this year, officials said.

Cleveringa could spend five years to 15 years in prison if convicted of stealing.

If convicted on the forgery charge, Cleveringa could face imprisonment in the custody of the Missouri Department of Corrections for a term not less than two years and no more than seven years.

She could also face a fine of anywhere between $5,000 and $20,000.

No court date has been set.

No comments:

Post a Comment