The 121st District Attorney on Monday released information about Melissa Kinney-Edgar of Brownfield who was indicted for theft of property greater than $300,000. 

While the legal category of theft is “greater than $300,000” she actually took more than $500,000 from J&A Farm in Yoakum County according to a written statement Kinney. 

She was also charged with money laundering for a series of forged checks between June and November of 2015. 

A written statement said, “Kinney-Edgar would make the check out to herself, forge Hartman’s signature, then post the entry in the company books to a farm vendor and then deposit the money to an account, in her name, at a Lubbock bank.”

She was arrested Friday and booked into the Terry County Jail. The following is a written statement from the District Attorney:

Law Enforcement Officers from Yoakum County and Terry County took Melissa Kinney Edgar of Brownfield into custody on Friday afternoon with arrest warrants issued from Yoakum County. Kinney-Edgar stands charged with “Theft of Property, greater than $300,000”, a first degree felony and “Money Laundering, greater than $300,000, also a first degree felony.”

Kinney-Edgar was booked into Terry County Jail and was processed with bond being set by the District Court.

According to the filed indictment, Kinney-Edgar forged the name of J&A Farm co-owner, Jerry Hartman, on thirteen checks beginning in June of 2015 and ending in mid-November of 2015. The thirteen checks totaled in excess of $500,000.

Copies of the checks included in the indictment range from $5,000 to $70,000. Kinney-Edgar, would make the check out to herself, forge Hartman’s signature, then post the entry in the company books to a farm vendor and then deposit the money to an account, in her name, at a Lubbock bank.

The scheme was discovered when Kinney-Edgar made out the check to a store/vendor that neither J&A Farm co-owner had patronized in many years.

In a filed companion civil case, the Yoakum County Criminal District Attorney has currently filed for forfeiture of four seized vehicles, two bank accounts and cash obtained from Kinney-Edgar. An affidavit filed with the civil case petition states that Kinney-Edgar admitted to the offenses and used some of the proceeds to buy vehicles, metal building, new metal roof on building, setting up a bank account and having cash on hand, which was later turned over to the Yoakum County District Attorney’s Office.

“The magnitude of this loss for our family is not only staggering, but even worse is the betrayal, deceit and lies involved in Melissa, my niece, doing this to us” commented Ann Hartman, J &A Farm co-owner.

“No one can have a theft of this size and not feel the impact and effect of such. It will take us a long time to recover, not only from the financial side but also from the pain and hurt of the betrayal” continued Hartman.

“Following her arrest, Kinney-Edgar will be scheduled for arraignment before the District Court which is expected in the next few weeks” stated Yoakum County Criminal District Attorney Bill Helwig. “Our office will not only prosecute this serious crime but will do all we can to help the victims recover some of their loss”

On each of the first degree felony charges, Kinney-Edgar is facing a range of punishment of up to a $10,000 fine and up 5 to 99 years in prison.