Salem dentist’s office manager accused of embezzling more than $140,000

SALEM, OR July 16, 2020 • An office manager at a Salem dentist’s office was charged with embezzling more than $140,000 over seven years from the business.

Shannon Raye Wilson, 42, of Amity, was arrested by Salem police detectives July 2 for the crimes of aggravated identity theft, fraudulent use of a credit card and first-degree aggravated theft, according to Lt. Treven Upkes with the Salem Police Department.

Using her position as office manager at the clinic of Margaret Giruc D.D.S. in Salem, Wilson allegedly embezzled company funds between 2013 and 2020, Upkes said. Officials said there is no indication at this time that Wilson used any patient information to “facilitate her criminal activity.”

The Marion County District Attorney’s office is still reviewing the case, according to Deputy District Attorney Amy Queen.

According to a probable cause statement, on April 3, Ofc. Roger Hibbeler took a report from the dentist’s business owner who said an employee obtained an “unauthorized line of credit” and used it to embezzle at least $146,107 belonging to the business.

The suspect was in charge of payroll and business finances including paying bills with the company credit card. She had full access to company accounts and records, and was also in charge of bookkeeping.

The victim told police she did not notice anything was wrong until she was forced to close the dentist’s office temporarily due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In reviewing finances, she noticed the company card had an outstanding balance of $18,000. She also discovered that a second “unauthorized” credit card issued to the dentist’s office was opened using the suspect’s home as a billing address.

The card had been active as early as March 2013 and had numerous transactions for restaurants, bars, hotels, retails stores, airline tickets, subscriptions, groceries and car rentals.

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