Former Liberty treasurer pleads in fraud scheme

Connected to her job as veterinary office manager

WARREN -- A former treasurer at Liberty Local Schools and former office manager for a Brookfield veterinary practice pleaded guilty Wednesday to charges of grand theft, attempted identity fraud and forgery.

Tracey E. Obermiyer, 52, of Obermiyer Road, Brookfield, appeared before Trumbull County Common Pleas Judge W. Wyatt McKay with her attorney Robert C. Kokor. McKay will sentence Obermiyer after she undergoes a background investigation conducted by county probation officers.

Obermiyer faces up to 54 months in prison. She already has been hit with a judgment for at least $243,023 in direct damages, plus 4 percent interest starting Jan. 31, 2019, the date Obermiyer was fired. Retired Common Pleas Judge Peter J. Kontos made that ruling against Obermiyer in a civil suit filed by Village Green Veterinary Service Inc. and Kilar Properties LLC.

The businesses operated a veterinary office at 380 Route 7, Brookfield, in which Obermiyer was office manager. Beginning in 2017, according to court records, Obermiyer was accused of misappropriating business money as well as causing additional loss in interest, penalties, late fees and other expenses.

Prosecutors said she created false records related to employee payroll and tax withholdings, diverted funds to pay personal expenses, forged checks and altered financial records as part of a $325,000 scheme.

Criminally, prosecutors said she was charged with misappropriating funds in excess of $128,000, including taking out two fraudulent loans. The charges stem from an investigation by Brookfield police in June 2019.

The plea hearing headed off a Dec. 19 jury trial for Obermiyer.

When Obermiyer was treasurer of the Liberty school district, a 2012 state audit found she paid herself, without school board approval, some $4,900 for the fiscal officer duties provided for the district's early learning program. Because Obermiyer was not entitled to additional compensation, the auditor issued a finding for recovery in the amount of $4,920 against Obermiyer. There was no criminal charges filed in that case.