BEDFORD, Ohio — A former city of Bedford employee has been indicted for allegedly embezzling thousands of dollars while collecting residential water supply fees.
Lynda Yarish has been charged with two counts of theft in office, tampering with records and falsification, according to Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas records.
Between Jan. 1, 2015 and Nov. 30, 2016, Yarish embezzled more than $10,000 while collecting fees for water shut-offs, permits and vital statistics, the indictment states.
During that time, there was an 18-day period where she was solely responsible for the city’s water fee revenue receipts, court records state. The indictment also says that Yarish allegedly tampered with the city’s billing and receipt system.
Authorities allege Yarish also embezzled more than $50,000 while collecting the same fees. According to the indictment, Yarish’s bank account indicates that she had “routine and excessive gambling losses and cash buy-ins in various casino games of change and routine cash deposits in her personal bank account during work hours.”
Yarish is scheduled to appear in court on June 10.
