Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 57-year-old Karen Titus of Lancaster pleaded guilty today before State Supreme Court Justice John L. Michalski to two counts of Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, Class “C” felonies. The defendant pleaded guilty to the highest sustainable charge.

The defendant admitted that, while employed by Acme Bearings Corporation, she stole $223,428.04 from the company. Between July of 2016 and June of 2019, the defendant wrote 138 checks out of the company’s operating account to pay her credit card bills, resulting in a misappropriation of more than $165,000. The defendant also diverted cash payments made to the company for her personal gain, resulting in a diversion of more than $58,000.

The theft was uncovered following an internal audit. The defendant was subsequently fired from her position as bookkeeper of the company in June 2019.     

Titus faces a maximum of 15 years in prison when she is sentenced on Tuesday, January 26, 2021. She remains released on her own recognizance.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Christopher P. Jurusik from the DA’s Special Investigations and Prosecutions Bureau.