Schuyler County Woman Charged With Felony Theft in $41K Bank Fraud Case

 LANCASTER, Mo. — A Schuyler County woman has been charged with felony stealing after investigators say she wrote dozens of unauthorized checks to herself, withdrawing more than $41,000 from a victim’s bank account over a six-month period. 

Kimberly Jean Martin is facing one count of stealing $25,000 or more, a Class C felony, according to a complaint filed by Schuyler County Prosecuting Attorney Lindsay G. Gravett. Under Missouri law, the charge carries a potential prison sentence of up to 10 years and a fine of up to $10,000. Because Martin is classified as a persistent offender, she could face an enhanced sentence if convicted. 

According to a probable cause statement from Schuyler County Sheriff Joe Wuebker, authorities were contacted on Dec. 22, 2024, by a confidential victim who reported discovering unauthorized withdrawals from their bank account. The victim, along with two witnesses, reviewed banking records and determined that Martin had allegedly written approximately 74 checks to herself between May 10 and Nov. 13, 2024. The withdrawals ranged from $50 to $2,000 and totaled $41,392.55. 

Investigators determined that Martin cashed the checks primarily at Equity Bank branches in Schuyler and Adair counties. In an effort to verify the transactions, authorities contacted a bank teller who confirmed that she had cashed checks for Martin on multiple occasions. Investigators also reached out to Equity Bank’s fraud prevention department, which provided surveillance footage showing Martin making withdrawals. The footage, which covered the period from Sept. 20 to Nov. 13, 2024, reportedly coincided with the dates and times of the fraudulent transactions. 

Further investigation revealed that Martin was expected to deposit certain funds into the victim’s account but instead kept the money for herself. When the victim attempted to contact Martin about the missing funds, she allegedly did not respond to phone calls. The case was then referred to law enforcement. 

In addition to the current felony charge, prosecutors state that Martin has prior felony convictions, qualifying her as a persistent offender under Missouri law. This designation allows for an enhanced sentence, potentially elevating the charge to a Class B felony, which carries a longer prison term. 

The case remains under investigation by the Schuyler County Sheriff’s Office. Martin is being held in the Macon County Jail.