MARATHON, Fla. – A garbage service employee in the Florida Keys, who was arrested last week on accusations that she stole from her employer, now faces additional charges, Monroe County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Becky Herrin said on Thursday.
Michelle Ludwig, 34, who worked for Marathon Garbage Services, was arrested July 24 for allegedly writing 69 checks to herself over and above her normal paychecks and using the owner's scanned electronic signature to sign the checks.
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Herrin said Ludwig stole more than $80,000 from her employer between February and July.
Following her arrest, a detective assigned to the case said she discovered that 42 additional checks had been forged and cashed by Ludwig.
Ludwig was charged Wednesday with 42 additional counts of grand theft, forgery and uttering a forged instrument.
Authorities said Ludwig confessed to the family company's president after she was confronted by the company's accountant who noticed discrepancies.
Herrin said Ludwig told the accountant that she stole the money because she has a drug addiction. She told her boss that she had been forging his father's signature on the checks, but wanted to repay the money.
Instead, her boss notified deputies and said they wanted to press charges.