ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. – An O’Fallon, Missouri, woman is believed to have embezzled tens of thousands of dollars from her employer over a 17-month period.
According to the Maryland Heights Police Department’s probable cause statement, Meridian Electric reported their former accountant, Janel Bechel, had swindled them.
Meridian hired Bechel in June 2018 to handle its payroll and benefits. Bechel left the business on May 1, 2023.
After Bechel’s departure, police said Meridian management discovered Bechel had given herself hourly wage increases, bonus checks, personal time off, and petty cash withdrawals—all without the owner’s consent or approval.
Between Dec. 30, 2021, and May 1, 2023, investigators allege Bechel gave herself $44,248.77 in additional income. This amount does not include the bonus checks, cash withdrawals, or the value of the additional vacation hours.
The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office charged Bechel with one count of stealing – $25,000 or more.
A St. Louis County Circuit Court judge issued Bechel a criminal summons, ordering her to appear in court on Feb. 27.