The Las Cruces woman indicted last week for embezzling more than $29,000 from Mathers Realty was arrested today and also charged for committing another financial crime while that investigation was ongoing.
Michelle R. Casas, 34, was pending four older felony cases while the two latest investigations were underway.
Casas was arrested today on a warrant from District Court for the indictment of one count of embezzlement more than $20,000 and 33 counts of forgery less than $2,500. She was also served today with a warrant charging her with making an unauthorized withdrawal from her latest employer’s business account.
The new case stems from an Oct. 10, 2016, report in which MANS Construction alleged that Casas, a temporary employee of theirs, illegally used company funds to pay for her personal DISH Network account.
Altogether, Casas was awaiting adjudication on four pending jury trials for previous indictments while she was employed by Mathers Realty and MANS Construction.
The four previously pending jury trials for Casas include:
- November 2014-December 2014 – three counts of forgery, seven counts of issuing a worthless check and one count of theft of identity.
- March 2015 – two counts of forgery and two counts of acquisition or attempt to acquire a controlled substance.
- October 2015 – forgery (making or altering a false check).
- November 2015 – one count of forgery (making or altering a false check).
Casas was booked into the Dona Ana County Detention Center where she’s currently being held on a $60,000 total secured bond.
The Las Cruces Police Department encourages other potential victims of financial crimes to call (575) 526-0795.
Information from Las Cruces Police