ST. LOUIS – A district judge has sentenced Angela Cooper, 47, a former office manager, to 51 months in federal prison. The sentence stems from her conviction on charges of embezzlement and identity theft, according to court documents. Cooper previously worked for AMK Heating and Cooling in Edwardsville.
Cooper pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud, one count of bank fraud, one count of aggravated identity theft, and three counts of tax fraud. Court documents indicate that while working as the manager at AMK, Cooper had access to the company’s checkbook and accounting software. Over a two-year period, she allegedly wrote approximately 100 checks to herself, forging the necessary signatures in the process. The total amount embezzled from AMK was $158,658.41.
Furthermore, the documents reveal that Cooper accessed employee information, including personal details like social security numbers. She then used a coworker’s information to apply for and obtain a Discover credit card, quickly reaching the credit limit of $9,877.71. In addition to these fraudulent activities, Cooper failed to report additional income on her 2019, 2020, and 2021 tax returns, as stated in the court documents.
“By nature, greed continues to grow if left unchecked. For two years, Angela Cooper found multiple ways to steal from her employer. Cooper’s greed even extended to a coworker,” said FBI Springfield Special Agent in Charge Christopher Johnson. “The FBI is proud to work alongside our IRS law enforcement partners to thwart corporate fraud and ensure justice for victims.”
Along with the prison sentence, the judge ordered Cooper to pay $168,536.12 in restitution and serve three years of supervised release.
