Sep. 6—The former finance director for McCreery Aviation surrendered to authorities after being indicted on accusations that she stole $1.2 million from the company, according to a news release.
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Texas said in the release that Elizabeth Batten, 57, is scheduled for a first appearance in McAllen federal court Friday morning.
Batten, of Mission, is accused of engaging in a sophisticated scheme to defraud McCreery Aviation.
She held the role as finance director from 2019 to 2023.
"While serving in that role, she allegedly diverted company funds to pay for her personal expenses," the release stated. "She used signed blank company checks, intended for legitimate business purposes, to settle her personal credit card accounts, according to the charges. She allegedly concealed her actions by sending the fraudulent payments through the U.S. Postal Service."
Another McCreery Aviation employee noticed irregularities in the handing of company checks and the investigation "uncovered the full extent of the financial damage Batten's actions caused."
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