By BRANDON LaCHANCE

Staff writer

SUBLETTE — Former Woodhaven Lakes Finance Manager Donna Unrath was charged with Class 2 Felony theft on July 7 for allegedly taking $10,000-$100,00 from her former employer.

The Woodhaven Lakes Association Board of Directors had its monthly meeting on July 23 and matter was addressed during the meeting. The board of directors meetings are available for viewing on youtube.com.

Jeff Hickey, the executive director at Woodhaven Lakes, read a statement claiming the reportable stolen funds are $333,046 after an internal audit was held.

The board stands by its original statement on June 25 in which it stated several inaccuracies and inconsistencies were found in the bookkeeping. This led it to believe that theft of funds could have occurred over the past few years.

Hickey added there is no indication a current employee(s) was involved.

Woodhaven Lakes Association contacted the Lee County Sheriff Department, presented the bookkeeping and the case, and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office arrested Unrath.

During an ongoing investigation, specific details can’t be released, which Hickey announced during the July 23 meeting, but it was relayed Woodhaven is working with Cincinnati Insurance Company and WIPFLI, the auditing company, to obtain restitution of the stolen funds.

Hickey went over a timeline and where Woodhaven, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, Cincinnati Insurance Company, and WIPFLI are with the case and the findings.

• Woodhaven’s internal controls found the issue.
• Inconsistencies in accounting procedure were addressed to Unrath (Hickey never said Unrath, just former employee).
• Unrath resigned as accounting administrator.
• Additional inconsistencies identified immediately after resignation.
• Inconsistencies with financial records and theft of funds identified within months of resignation.
• Internal investigation confirmed portion of theft, local authorities and insurance company made aware.
• Charges filed.
• While preparing Woodhaven’s year-end audit, additional inconsistencies were found.

Unrath will be in court Thursday, Aug. 25 for a pretrial hearing.