Baltimore bookkeeper stole $275,000 from Carroll Park caterer

A Baltimore bookkeeper who stole more than $275,000 from her employer over nearly two years pleaded guilty to felony theft, the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office announced Wednesday.

What happened: Kimberly Hamilton worked remotely as a bookkeeper for Copper Kitchen Inc., a catering and food service company in Baltimore that employs more than 200 people. Her job included reviewing and paying bills from vendors who supplied the company with food, liquor, flowers, paper goods, and other party products.

Between July 2, 2021, and January 28, 2023, Hamilton used her access to the company’s accounts to set up a Copper Kitchen account with Melio, a payment processing service. She then directed Melio to send payments that were designed to look like routine vendor payments into her personal Wells Fargo account. Copper Kitchen also paid her regular salary through direct deposit into the same account.

By the numbers: Hamilton directed Melio to make 159 payments totaling $276,564.54 from Copper Kitchen’s bank account into her own. She also directed payroll processor ADP to make a duplicate payroll deposit of $1,620 into her account. She has not returned any of the money.

What’s important: Hamilton was already on probation for a prior theft conviction when she committed the thefts. She did not have authorization from Copper Kitchen to redirect any of the funds to her own account.

What’s next: Hamilton faces up to eight years in prison, with all but five years suspended, at sentencing scheduled for August 4, 2026. Economic Crimes Assistant State’s Attorney Ronald Neumann prosecuted the case with assistance from paralegal Janae Pearson.

“Financial crimes like this are not victimless offenses. When someone abuses a position of trust to steal from a business, the damage extends far beyond dollars and cents; it threatens livelihoods, undermines stability, and betrays the confidence that employers place in their employees,” State’s Attorney Ivan J. Bates said in a statement. “During a time when many businesses were already struggling with the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, this defendant repeatedly chose to enrich herself at her employer’s expense, despite already being on probation for a prior theft conviction.”

Copper Kitchen is located in Carroll Park in southwest Baltimore.