Eureka woman facing 30 years
A Eureka woman is facing up to 30 years in prison and $100,000 in fines after being charged with theft by embezzlement and forgery in a common scheme.
The woman, 39-year-old Amy Rose Chalcraft, pleaded not guilty to the charges in Montana’s 19th Judicial District Court Monday morning. She represented herself at the hearing, telling the judge she was trying to obtain representation.
According to the police report attached to the affidavit filed in district court Jan. 8, Chalcraft embezzled an estimated $8,250.13 from the Trego/Fortine/Stryker “TFS” Volunteer Fire Department between Dec. 1, 2014, and Nov. 25, 2015, while working as the department’s bookkeeper.
The forgeries were reported to Eureka Dispatch by Michael McMahn Jan. 2, 2016. Deputy Dan Holskey of the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case and reported Chalcraft wrote 10 checks to herself or her business from the fire department. She additionally allegeldy made 19 Western Union money transfers from TFS accounts.
“On Jan. 3, 2016, I met with TFS treasurer, Tristan Miske,” Holskey wrote in the report. “Miske brought me bank statements for the accounts Chalcraft had taken money from. In reading the statements and talking with Miske I found that Chalcraft had forged 10 checks to herself or her business. The first check on Apr. 10, 2015, and the last recorded check on July 21, 2015, for an amount of $1,503.
“Chalcraft made 19 money transfers through Western Union from TFS accounts. The first transfer occurred on Dec. 23, 2014, and the last recorded transfer was on Nov. 25, 2015, for an amount of $5,774.14. On Jan. 2, 2015, Chalcraft made an electronic transfer with a Square card reader for $700. On Dec. 20, 2015, Chalcraft used a TFS account to make purchases at Target in the amount of $169.99. On Jan. 4, 2015, Chalcraft used a TFS account to make a purchase through Venmo in the amount of $103. In reading the bank statements the total amount of money Chalcraft took from TFS accounts totals $8,250.13.”
Holskey interviewed Chalcraft Jan. 2, 2016, at the North Lincoln County Law Enforcement Complex. According to his report, Chalcraft admitted taking the money, from both TFS fire department and county fire service area accounts. She said the Western Union money transfers were made to her fiance, who was living in Jamaica, and whom she was trying to move to the United States.
“The Western Union transfers were made to her fiance who was living in Jamaica and she felt like she needed to do whatever she needed to get him to the United States,” Holskey wrote.
The deputy reported Chalcraft said the first transfer was an accident and that she caught the mistake on the bank statement, but then continued to make transfers because she didn’t have a good job at the time but needed to send the money to her fiance. According to the report, she now has a good job at the Wilderness Club, as a bookkeeper, and is willing and able to repay the stolen amounts.
Chalcraft has not been arrested, but appeared in court Monday in response to a summons. She was ordered fingerprinted and released Monday and is next scheduled for an omnibus hearing March 7, 2016.