Date Published: July 10, 2006   

Former state vocational employee charged with embezzlement

The Associated Press

A former employee of the South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Department has been charged with embezzling thousands of dollars in public money by forging clients' signatures, authorities say.

Melissa Price McDowell, 36, of Laurens, was arrested Monday and charged with forgery and embezzlement.

She forged signatures on checks totaling $5,000 and converted that money for her own use, the State Law Enforcement Division said.

McDowell also has been charged obstruction of justice for trying to bribe a witness to make false statements, SLED said.

McDowell was being held Monday at the Laurens county jail.