Former Calif. Red Cross Accountant Indicted

Officials in California indicted a former accountant at the Orange County chapter of the American Red Cross this week, accusing her of stealing more than $100,000 from the charity, reports the Los Angeles Times.

Karen Shuerger, who was assistant director of accounting and had been employed by the organization for nearly 18 years, did not comment on the charges, which included five counts of mail and wire fraud.

Officials with the U.S. attorney’s office say Ms. Shuerger embezzled the money between 2000 and her retirement in October 2005, and used it for a trip to Las Vegas, shopping, and a membership to another charity — the San Diego Zoo.

Ms. Shuerger’s alleged thefts were discovered after her replacement could not balance the books, and the Red Cross hired an independent accounting investigator, the Times reports. That investigator determined a loss and reported it to the FBI last year.