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(Jessica Prokop/The Columbian)

MEDIA SPOTLIGHT – A 10-year accounting employee of Vancouver Bolt & Supply was sentenced to three years in prison for stealing at least $475,000 from the Washington fastener distributor.

In an agreement with prosecutors, Geneva Bethany DeGagne, 38, pleaded guilty to 30 counts of second-degree theft and one count of third-degree theft between 2006 and 2010.  She had been charged with 52 counts of first-degree theft and one count of second-degree theft.

Deputy prosecutor Jeff McCarty told The Columbian that DeGagne’s duties included updating clients’ accounts and making deposits. She siphoned money and manipulated accounts to hide her tracks, McCarty said.

Vancouver Bolt hired Acuity Forensics to investigate and discovered the missing funds.

“We will never know the true amount, but that’s what we can prove,” McCarty said. “Her actions hurt a lot of people. It hurt a business. And, it hurt a family, multiple families.”

Owner Craig Johnson, and one of the founders, Doris Johnson, read statements to the court describing the impact on the business and its employees. That included layoffs and employees taking pay cuts.

“Thanks a lot, Geneva. You screwed up many lives,” Doris Johnson said. “I cannot believe you repaid the Johnson family by trying to ruin their future.”

Craig Johnson told DeGagne that although he’s saddened by her actions, he doesn’t hate her. “I don’t hate anyone,” he added.

“If you did indeed think you were sticking it to the man, you missed me. You didn’t stick it to me. Instead, you stuck it to the whole group,” he said.

Defense attorney Therese Lavallee, noted DeGagne did not have any previous criminal record, and she believes there is an underlying psychological reason for why she embezzled the money.

“She’s desirous of addressing whatever those issues are,” Lavallee said. DeGagne’s situation spiraled out of control and “it wasn’t discovered until very late.”

“In the end, the most important thing is that she’s taking full responsibility. She is agreeing to take the full sentence and admitted to the conduct from the get-go,” Lavallee said. “She’s working on becoming a better person. She has great remorse and is ready to serve her time and pay back.”

Judge Derek Vanderwood said he was glad to hear DeGagne recognized the negative impact of the situation, but noted the crime had significant impact and was not an isolated incident.

“It happened over time and affected people’s lives in a real and significant way,” Columbian reported Jessica Prokop quoted the judge.

Vanderwood agreed to follow the sentencing agreement. In addition to three years in prison, DeGagne will spend two years on probation, related to the misdemeanor charge, and was ordered to pay $476,000 restitution.

“I think justice was served. I’m looking forward to … Geneva paying us back after she serves her time in prison,” Craig Johnson said.

“Probably one of the saddest parts of this is the damage done to the employees who suffered through wage cuts, and there was damage to their credit. One of my folks lost his house because of this,” Johnson said. “The impact wasn’t just to the business, but to the employees and, eventually, the community, because we’ve always been very generous in contributing to the community. During this time, that’s one of the things that had to be cut.”

Founded in 1979, Vancouver Bolt & Supply distributes fasteners, tools and hardware items to the Pacific Northwest’s construction, industrial, manufacturing, fabricating and residential markets.

Vancouver Bolt is located at 805 W. 11th St., Vancouver, WA 98660. Tel: 360 699-4406

Editor’s Note: Articles in MEDIA SPOTLIGHT are excerpts from publications or broadcasts which show the industry what the public is reading or hearing about fasteners and fastener companies.