78 Federal Charges Brought Against Couple for Defrauding Paper

By: New charges have been filed against an Illinois couple accused of stealing almost one million dollars from the Quad-City Times, where 1 of them worked as a building maintenance supervisor.

A 78-count federal indictment was unsealed today against Earl and Julie Beasley. It alleges mail and credit card fraud and money laundering. The indictment also seeks forfeiture of the couple's home and their 401(k) account.

Previously, the Taylor Ridge, Illinois, residents were indicted on only two fraud counts.

Earl Beasley worked at the Times from 1989 until this January. He was fired after the newspaper reviewed several invoices submitted to the Times from two companies reportedly owned by his wife.

The Beasleys are accused of billing the newspaper $921,000 for goods and services that it never received. The initial indictment also alleged the couple used company credit cards to order $14,000.