Monroe, GA woman arrested for stealing over $400,000 from Gwinnett employer in forgery scheme

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA– Melissa Dowd, 58, of Monroe, GA has been arrested for stealing more than $400,000 from her former employer, Gwinnett County Police said. She was booked into the Gwinnett County Jail on Dec. 17 after the Police Department’s Electronic and Financial Crimes Unit obtained several warrants for her arrest. 

Dowd’s employer filed a police report in April concerning the fraud. According to the employer, Dowd would submit false invoices for various vendors.  Once the payments were authorized, Dowd would alter the checks meant for the vendors and list herself as the payee.  She did this over 190 times and stole over $400,000 through the forged checks, Gwinnett detectives said. 

Additionally, Dowd was able to alter her paycheck to double her salary, investigators found.  She used her access to the payroll software for the company to hide the money and alter her W-2 each year to avoid paying taxes on the stolen funds, investigators said.  Investigators were able to follow up with the employer and track some of the funds.  Several warrants were issued for Dowd, including computer theft, computer forgery, theft by taking, and forgery in the 3^rd degree. 

The investigation is still ongoing.  Anyone who has any information in this case is asked to contact Gwinnett County Police Department detectives at 770-513-5300.  To remain anonymous, tipsters should contact Crime Stoppers at 404-577-TIPS (8477) or visit www.stopcrimeATL.com.  Crime Stoppers tipsters can receive a cash reward for information leading to an arrest and indictment