Bogart bookkeeper gets prison time for stealing $600,000

A former bookkeeper for two Athens area real estate companies recently was sentenced to almost four years in a federal penitentiary.

Federal officials say Suzanne Brooks, 41, of Bogart stole more than $600,000 that she used to finance a luxurious lifestyle.

U.S. District Court Judge Ashley Royal in Athens on Thursday imposed a prison sentence of three years and 10 months on Brooks. He also ordered her to pay $610,857 in restitution and remain on three years of federal supervision after her release.

Brooks had pleaded guilty to wire fraud in November 2021.

Also, Royal signed a forfeiture order in November giving the government ownership of a ring described as 14-carat gold with eight diamonds, 24 sapphires and a round yellow diamond that weighed 0.87 carats. The value of the ring was not listed in the order.

"Fraud creates a chain reaction of negative consequences for both its victims and the larger community," U.S. Attorney Peter Leary said in a statement released from his office after the sentencing.

Brooks had worked as a bookkeeper from 2013-19 for two people who owned real estate companies, a job that gave her access to checks and online banking credentials for their businesses at several banks, according to the federal document.

The FBI reported she used the bank accounts to make numerous credit-card payments.

Brooks used the stolen money to pay for utilities, insurance, food, first-class travel, online shopping, retail purchases and jewelry, as well as for inventory for a clothing business she operated, according to the FBI.

By falsifying statements she was able to convince the victims their businesses were less profitable than they actually were, authorities said.

The document shows that Brooks caused at least $659,106 in total losses to the two real estate companies, neither which were identified in the document.

According to the U.S. Attorney, there is no parole for Brooks.