High Ridge Woman Sentenced to 27 Months in Prison

A federal judge sentenced Jessica L. Harris, of High Ridge to 27 months in prison on mail fraud charges. 

She pleaded guilty to embezzling funds from Micro Engineering, Inc., a Fenton-based maker of model railroad cars in November 2011, The U.S. Attorney's Office said a news release.

Court documents said that, between 2004 to December 2006, Harris worked as an office manager and wrote corporate checks to pay her personal credit card.

She concealed the embezzlement by entering false business records and manipulated checking account records.

U.S. District Judge Henry Autrey also ordered Harris to repay about $230,000 to Micro Engineering, Inc., and business owner Ronald Rands. 

The U.S. Secret Service and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office investigated Harris three felony counts of mail fraud.