Clarksville, Tennessee, Woman Sentenced to 2 Years in Federal Prison and Ordered to Pay $291,470 in Restitution for Defrauding Employer

Paducah, KY – A Clarksville, Tennessee, woman was sentenced this week to 2 years in federal prison on five counts of wire fraud. U.S. Attorney Kyle G. Bumgarner of the Western District of Kentucky and Special Agent in Charge Olivia Olson of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Louisville Field Office made the announcement. Kathleen M. Michaelis, 50, was sentenced to 2 years in prison, followed by 2 years of supervised release, for five counts of wire fraud. According to court documents, between May 2017 and May 2024, Michaelis was employed as a bookkeeper for a business in Christian County, Kentucky. She embezzled over $238,000 from her employer utilizing a fraudulent check scheme. She used the stolen money to pay personal expenses. Michaelis concealed her scheme by failing to forward employee paystub withholdings to the United States Treasury and the company’s retirement plan. Michaelis was also ordered to pay $291,470 in restitution. There is no parole in the federal system. This case was investigated by the FBI Bowling Green Satellite Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Raymond McGee of the U.S. Attorney’s Paducah Branch Office prosecuted the case. ###