Jan. 24--A Charlotte woman was sentenced Tuesday to more than three years in prison for a six-year mail fraud scheme in which she stole nearly $740,000 from her employer.

Maureen Barbara Mallon, 67, pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud in July 2011 for defrauding a Charlotte insurance company where she worked between 2004 and 2010.

Mallon had full access to the company's account and responsibility for processing invoices and remitting payments of insurance premiums to the companies that underwrote policies for her employer, according to a Department of Justice news release.

Court records show that in 2004, Mallon began issuing duplicate insurance premium payments from her employer's accounts. She would mail a check to the underwriting insurance company and deposit a duplicate check into her personal bank account, authorities said.

Over six years, Mallon deposited approximately $730,000 into her personal bank account, court records show.

Steele: 704-358-5067

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