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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Vashon Island Woman Sentenced For Embezzling $100,000

From Staff And Wire Reports

A woman who embezzled more than $100,000 from a Vashon Island businessman has been sentenced to 21 months in prison.

Polly K. Wellman, 51, of Vashon Island, was sentenced Friday by U.S. District Judge Carolyn Dimmick. She pleaded guilty May 15 to one count of bank fraud.

Wellman worked as an accountant and bookkeeper for Irving S. Wolfe, owner of Happy Man Corp., a Vashon Island company that offers Internet services. During eight months in 1995, she prepared 25 checks against the accounts of the company and related businesses, forged Wolfe’s name, and deposited checks into her own account or cashed them and kept the proceeds, the U.S. attorney’s office said.

Wellman was eventually fired from the company.

Evidence was also established that Wellman previously embezzled at least $40,000 from a Tacoma business, Lee Odegaard’s Auto Repair, prosecutors said.

As part of her sentence, Wellman was ordered to pay restitution to Wolfe and to the auto-repair business.

Wellman was arrested in Harrison, Ark., in April. The FBI said the forgery allegations surfaced following news reports the previous month of an incident involving Wellman, her 14-year-old granddaughter and the Mormon church.

Wellman accused the Vashon Island branch of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints of trying to separate her from her granddaughter and of placing prank phone calls to her home.

A King County District Court judge granted Wellman’s request for an anti-harassment order against two of the church’s members. Both church members denied involvement in any pranks.