SC woman gets 7 years in prison in office theft

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A Batesburg woman has been sentenced to more than seven years in prison after she pleaded guilty to taking almost $2 million from the doctor’s office where she worked.

The State newspaper reported (http://bit.ly/1qCHrvc ) that 46-year-old Chandra Padgett was sentenced to seven years and three months in prison.

Padgett was an office manager and bookkeeper for Advanced Pain Therapies in Irmo.

U.S. Attorney Bill Nettles said Padgett pleaded guilty to wire fraud and tax evasion.

Prosecutors said she set up a shell company and sent bogus invoices for payment.

Nettles said records show she took more than $1.9 million between 2008 and 2010.

Padgett has been ordered to pay restitution to her employer and the Internal Revenue Service.

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Information from: The State, http://www.thestate.com