Former UW Oshkosh Sodexo employee Karen Anderson pleaded guilty on Sept. 27 to charges of stealing $308,709.89 from the food service provider.

Her sentencing hearing is set for Dec. 3 in Winnebago County before Judge John Jorgensen. Anderson faces a Class G felony, up to 10 years in prison and $25,000 in fines.
According to court documents, Anderson cashed 159 checks made payable to Sodexo Services from 2010 to 2015.

Anderson started by cashing a deposit-only check because a client paid a bill meant for the University as well as Sodexo. According to Anderson, the customer paid Sodexo for the catering services and paid the University for room rental.

Anderson reported that a teller at U.S. Bank on Main Street allowed her to cash the deposit-only check and apply it to the Sodexo account and then forward the rest to the University account.
Anderson said she followed the same procedure each time she cashed a check. Other than the first two checks she cashed, no money from the cashed checks went back to Sodexo.

Anderson stated the stolen money was used for her son’s basketball expenses including camps, hotel stays and other miscellaneous payments.

The complaint against Anderson was filed on March 21. University Police detective Michael Bartlein reported on Jan. 18 that Anderson admitted to stealing from Sodexo.
Anderson made an initial court appearance on April 30 in Winnebago County. Several character references were entered in between July 30 and Sept. 21.

Anderson’s lawyer, Mark Kershek, did not respond to an attempt for comment.