A Baltimore bookkeeper who handled the numbers from afar is now facing serious prison time after a jury found she quietly funneled nearly $277,000 out of a local catering company and into her own bank account, prosecutors say.
How prosecutors say the scheme worked
From July 2, 2021, through Jan. 28, 2023, Kimberly Hamilton worked remotely as the company bookkeeper and, according to prosecutors, set up a vendor account with the payment processor Melio, then directed 159 ACH payments totaling $276,564.54 into a Wells Fargo account she controlled. Prosecutors say she also caused ADP to issue a duplicate payroll deposit of $1,620. The State's Attorney's Office says Hamilton never had the authority to divert company funds and has not returned the money. Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 4, 2026, and prosecutors say she faces an eight-year term with all but five years suspended, according to FOX45.
Prosecutor says this was no victimless crime
“Financial crimes like this are not victimless offenses. When someone abuses a position of trust to steal from a business, the damage extends far beyond dollars and cents,” State’s Attorney Ivan Bates said in a press release, according to his office. Bates also noted that Hamilton was already on probation for a prior theft conviction when the alleged scheme took place, per FOX45.
The caterer at the center of the case
The company Hamilton stole from, Copper Kitchen, is a Baltimore-based catering outfit that runs a commercial kitchen on Washington Boulevard and focuses on weddings, corporate events, and other large gatherings. The business is listed at 2000 Washington Blvd. Suite J on local listings, according to Visit Baltimore, and its company profile places it in roughly the 51 to 200 employee range, per LinkedIn.
What Maryland law says about big-ticket theft
Under Maryland law, theft of property or services valued at $100,000 or more is a felony that can bring up to 25 years in prison, along with substantial fines, and courts often order restitution to victims. The state’s theft statute sets out increasing penalties based on the value involved, which means Hamilton's conviction, for an amount above that $100,000 threshold, qualifies as a felony with significant potential consequences. Her exact punishment will be set at the August sentencing hearing. For the full breakdown of the law, see Maryland Criminal Law §7‑104.
