An errant computer keystroke led the state to accidentally issue a $2.5 million cheque to a school counsellor who spent thousands on cars, jewellery and electronics, prosecutors said.
Sabrina Walker, 37, was charged with theft by swindle and concealing the proceeds of a crime. She remained in jail Wednesday in lieu of $200,000 bail.
The state's accounting system was handling money for the Department of Human Services that was intended for the Hennepin County Medical Center when the cheque was issued to Walker by mistake in March.
Walker was in the state's system because she was once paid $84 as a court witness. Investigators found that Walker's vendor number in the state system was only one number off the hospital's nine-digit number.
Walker, along with a man she lived with, allegedly bought a $500,000 certificate of deposit, funded two retirement accounts, bought a $500,000 Treasury bond, spent $5,500 on jewellery, $3,817 at Best Buy and $2,069 on limousine services, according to the criminal complaint.
Walker also allegedly bought two cars, called the state to report the cheque, then bought two more cars, prosecutors said.
She has been placed on leave until the case is resolved.
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