Who’s the one person you’d least expect to pilfer from a company? How about the adviser you brought in to put a stop to theft?

It may seem like a no-brainer to most, but Block Communications, Inc., is learning that the title “theft expert” might have more than one meaning. Former employee Barry Webne was hired at the company in July 2001, as a theft-prevention specialist.

The first red flag: Webne acquired the majority of his experience by embezzling from a company a decade before his hiring at Block. In his defense, former “professional” thieves are often hired later on down the road because of their expertise in the security field. Frank Abagnale, a security consultant who helped develop most modern paper check security features, learned the ropes by duping banks for years.

Block must have trusted in Weber’s experience. Over his five years with the company, Webne gained more control over the company’s financial security. Eventually, Webne began writing himself checks on company stock that were signed with a signature stamp of a fellow employee.

After cashing the checks, he’d destroy the canceled checks returned to the company and make false entries in the company’s books to conceal the embezzlement.

On top of the $1,138,334 Webne outright stole from Block, he also managed to give himself several pay raises that weren’t authorized by company executives.

He was caught after being transferred to Corporate Protection Services, a subsidiary of Block Communications.

In addition to the stolen funds he must pay back, Webne faces up to 63 months in federal prison.

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Tags: Embezzlement, Paper check, Red flag, Security