Woman Accused of Pocketing More than $300,000 Via Fraud

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- A local woman turned herself in after an investigation into some suspicious check writing from the checking account of the business where she works.

While preparing for a board meeting at the Park Plaza condominiums in Riverside last month, the treasurer noticed some unauthorized transactions.

Suspicious, she then audited the condo books back to 2002. Lisa Diane Ricardo, 43, had been in charge of payments from the checking and reserves account during the seven years she worked for Park Plaza.

According to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office report, Ricardo was using the business checking account to make personal payments, including checks made out to her cell phone bill and her son.

A police report said Ricardo disguised her payments by using actual expense accounts. The investigation showed that over a seven-year period, Ricardo took more than $300,000 fraudulently.

Thursday, Ricardo turned herself in.

She faces charges of fraudulent use of personal identification information, forgery, organized fraud and uttering forged bills.

Edited by: Dave Wax Web Producer Twitter | Facebook | (904)633-5576 Ann Butler New Media Manager Twitter | Facebook	Created: 2/5/2010 4:33:08 PM Updated: 2/5/2010 4:57:12 PM Suggest News Tips & Story Leads Submit Video & Pictures