FOUND GUILTY: Jury returns verdict on Beryl Velguth, accused of embezzling $92K from her employer

MILWAUKEE COUNTY (WITI) -- A former Lutheran Social Services employee, accused of embezzling more than $90,000 has been found guilty following a jury trial.

The guilty verdict was returned on Thursday afternoon, October 30th.

Beryl Velguth



52-year-old Beryl Velguth faces a felony count of theft by false representation, greater than $10,000.

Following the guilty verdict handed down against her Thursday, the state asked that her bail be increased -- and the defense objected. Arguments were heard, and the state determined Velguth's bail will remain the same.

Velguth worked as a Risk Manager at Lutheran Social Services until spring 2013. She is accused of billing multiple law firms for the same case and having checks mailed to her home address. In November 2012, an audit ordered by managers at Lutheran Social Services uncovered the fraudulent billing.

According to prosecutors, Howard Law and Legal Services was one of the firms listed. There is no existing address or phone number for the firm, and it is not listed on the Wisconsin Bar Association website. Checks being mailed to Howard Law, however, were allegedly going to an address in Wales, Wisconsin — which is where Velguth resides.

Authorities believe Velguth made up the law firm, billed them, then cashed the checks.

LSS records show this occurred on eight different occasions between October 2012 and April 2013.

Velguth will be sentenced on January 15th, 2015.

Related stories: