Woman Accused of Stealing $141,000 from Iowa City Employer

By Vanessa Miller, Reporter

Tools

By Aaron Hepker

Story Created: Aug 27, 2012 at 11:06 AM CDT

Story Updated: Aug 27, 2012 at 11:06 AM CDT

IOWA CITY, Iowa - Over a two-year period, Kimberly Kate Kurka is accused of stealing more than $141,000 from her Iowa City employer by writing herself additional paychecks, stealing cash payments from clients and other financial misappropriations.

Kurka, 35, was arrested late last week on suspicion of felony first-degree theft after Iowa City police developed evidence that she misappropriated funds from her employer between 2008 and 2010, according to a criminal complaint.

The complaint does not name Kurka’s former employer, but it lists the crime scene address as 720 S. Dubuque St. Ste. 1. Public records show the Foster Law Office in Iowa City as having that address.

Kurka, according to the complaint, was in charge of managing payroll, accounts receivable, accounts payable and other business related to the trust and operating accounts while working at the victimized employer.

She had access to passwords and online accounts, and she’s accused in the complaint of misappropriating money through various financial instruments, including check and money transfers from operating and trust accounts, credit cards and cash payments from clients.

Some of Kurka’s alleged criminal behavior includes writing herself additional paychecks, inflating her payroll, converting credit card access checks to funds for the operating account, and stealing client cash payments, according to the compliant.

A forensic fraud examiner reviewed the case and found that the alleged crimes started no later than 2008, police reported.

Kurka is being held at the Johnson County Jail in lieu of a $10,000 cash-only bond.

On at least two online business listings, Kurka is listed a vice president of the Foster Law Office.

The criminal complaint did not list an address for Kurka, but public records show she lives in Oxford.

According to online court records, Kurka has a long criminal history in Iowa of mostly driving and financial violations.