PEORIA, Ill. – A federal grand jury has indicted a former Bard Optical employee for allegedly stealing close to five million dollars.
In a statement from the company, former Accounting Manager Gayle Rentsch was indicted on 16 counts related to the alleged theft of around $4.8 million over a period of years.
Rentsch was terminated after the alleged theft was discovered on June 19th, 2024, with the company complying with federal investigators.
Bard Optical says Rentsch was a “highly respected member of our accounting team” and adds a “great deal of trust” was placed in her, and was “deeply disappointed by this breach of our trust.”
The company says since the termination, it has strengthened its internal controls, expanded employee training, and reviewed compliance protocols.
The case was investigated by the FBI and the IRS, and is now being handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of Illinois.
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