Paducah woman federally indicted for wire fraud over $400,000

A Paducah woman has been federally indicted with six counts of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identify theft. 

According to a news release from the U.S. Attorney of the Western District of Kentucky, the indictment states that between September of 2019 and February of 2023 34-year-old Nichole Lawrence used her position as office manager to unlawfully obtain funds and services totaling over $400,000 from her employer in McCracken County. 

Lawrence allegedly accessed the company’s bank account and scheduled electronic payments for personal expenses, and also allegedly used a stamp with the signature of the general manager to issue unauthorized checks to herself. 

If convicted, Lawrence faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for each count of wire fraud followed by a mandatory 24 months in prison for identity theft. There is no parole in the federal system.