News release from the U.S. Attorney's Office

St. Louis, MO: Amy Cline was sentenced to 15 months in prison on mail fraud charges, Acting United States Attorney Michael W. Reap announced today.

Cline, 36, Florissant, MO, pleaded guilty in February 2009 to one count of mail fraud while employed by Paul Cerame Lincoln Mercury as an office manager from 2004 to February 2007.

According to the indictment, Cline's duties included making bank deposits for Cerame to Regions Bank, previously known as Union Planters, as well as reconciling the monthly bank statements. During this time, Cline embezzled money and otherwise defrauded Cerame of $219,089.70 through the manipulation of bank deposits and certain personal insurance policy payments. Cline would falsify deposit slips to reflect the amounts after her embezzlement. This would modify the monthly bank statements to conceal the fraudulent deposit slips and receipts given Cline by the bank. Additionally, Cline's husband was covered by a health care insurance plan which covered him by her employment at Cerame, which they were supposed to be paying personally. However, Cline again embezzled money from her employer to pay premiums on the health care insurance policy of her husband.

She appeared today for sentencing before United States District Judge Donald J. Stohr in

St. Louis. The Court also ordered restitution in the amount of $219,089.70.

Reap commended the work on the case by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

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