RENO, Nev. (KRNV & Mynews4.com) -The Washoe County District Attorney's Office has announced that Heather Kathleen Denning was sentenced today to 20 years in the Nevada State Prison for two counts of theft.
According to Quadrant Information Services, Denning worked as an Office Manager for the Reno office of Quadrant Information Services (QIS). QIS is a software and data technology company. A press release from the Washoe County District Attorney's Office states that from September 2008 until April of 2012, Denning created fake billing invoices and issued company checks to pay those fake bills to her husband, Eric Denning. Denning would then transfer the money from her husband’s account to hers for her own personal use. Over that period of time, Denning issued over 150 checks for a total theft amount of $508,520, according to the release.
Denning’s thefts were discovered in April of 2012 when she was suspended without pay due to erratic and threatening behavior in the office, according to Quadrant Information Services. The company also stated that the thefts were discovered when another employee took over the bookkeeping for the Reno office and reported the fake billing invoices to management when Denning asked asked her to delete the invoices from company records.
“Denning spent the money on vacations, shopping sprees, alcohol and controlled substances. She used that money to live a lavish lifestyle with no regard to the impact it was having on the company and its employees. Several employees lost their jobs and the company had to completely shut down one of its branches in another state,” said Deputy District Attorney Chris Hicks.
“Denning’s habitual thefts were driven by pure greed and a complete indifference to her co-workers and the company itself.”
Eric Denning was also sentenced to 5 years of probation for his involvement in the thefts. Heather's earliest eligibility for parole will be in 8 years.
