The Clarke County Grand Jury returned a two count indictment today against Rebecca Hill for her role in the embezzlement of $219,795.69 from the Carl Vinson Institute of Government (Vinson Institute) of the University of Georgia (UGA). The indictment alleges that Hill, a business manager during the approximately five years when the thefts occurred, created a scheme using forms called Petty Cash Disbursement Receipts (PCDRs), which are used to reimburse university employees who purchase supplies for the university with personal funds. Hill would allegedly prepare falsified PCDRs which stated that she had purchased property for the Vinson Institute. She would then submit these forms to UGA for reimbursement from a petty cash fund. She allegedly submitted almost 500 fraudulent PCDRs between 2005 to 2009.

Hill was indicted for one count of racketeering for her alleged role in embezzlement from the UGA petty cash fund and for producing fraudulent PCDRs, a felony punishable by five to twenty years imprisonment and a fine up to three times the amount of the money stolen (O.C.G.A. § 16-14-4(a)). She was also indicted for one count of theft by taking for allegedly receiving improper reimbursements, a felony punishable by one to fifteen years imprisonment and a fine up to $100,000.00 (O.C.G.A. §§ 16-8-2 & 12).

Assistant Attorney General Greg Lohmeier, is prosecuting the case on behalf of the State of Georgia. Lohmeier presented the case to the Clarke County Grand Jury on February 8, 2011, and the Grand Jury returned the indictments yesterday in Clarke County Superior Court.

Members of the public should keep in mind that indictments contain only allegations against the individual(s) against whom the indictment is sought. A defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty, and it will be the government’s burden at trial to prove the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of the allegations contained in the indictment.