ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. — The former finance and human resources director at a charity that houses adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities pleaded guilty on Tuesday to embezzling nearly $700K from the organization.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Eastern District of Missouri, Joelle Fouse, 57, allegedly embezzled about $690,000 between October 2012 and December 2023 while she worked at the charity.

Fouse was responsible for the charity’s payroll and expense reimbursement and maintaining the charity’s books and records. Fouse allegedly stole from the charity in multiple ways.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Fouse initiated over 180 unauthorized expense payments totaling over $407,000 that were transferred into bank accounts she controlled. Allegedly she did this by providing false expense reimbursement information to a third-party payroll processing company.

Fouse additionally provided false payroll information, which led to 71 other unauthorized payments totaling over $139,000.

Fouse also used her company credit card to make 184 unauthorized purchases totaling over $133,200.

To cover up her crimes, Fouse falsified financial and accounting records.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, she admitted to using the money to pay for personal expenses for herself and relatives, including travel, clothing, entertainment, restaurants, and rent.

Allegedly, Fouse’s theft and the many unauthorized payments caused the charity to overpay payroll taxes by approximately $10,694. Her fraud also limited the charity’s ability to provide services to the disabled adults it serves.

Fouse was terminated, and her employer contacted federal authorities. Fouse pleaded guilty to three felony counts of wire fraud. She is scheduled to be sentenced on July 10.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office said each wire fraud charge carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both.