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Workers comp firm is accused in theft Its president is charged with stealing from a grocery store; at least 10 other clients may also be victims By SARAH LEMON and GREG STILES SAMIS Inc., a Medford company that processes worker compensation claims for public and private clients, and its president are accused of misappropriating money from a local grocery store. Police also are investigating at least 10 other client accounts managed by SAMIS. SAMIS President Suzanne Doreen Crawford, formerly known as Suzanne Worthington, was arrested Feb. 19 on a charge of first-degree aggravated theft, which involves a loss of more than $10,000. She was jailed and released on bail the same day. Crawford, 54, allegedly stole money from Sherm's Thunderbird Market Inc. while administering its worker compensation account, according to a lawsuit by Sherm's. The grocer filed suit Wednesday in Jackson County Circuit Court against Crawford and SAMIS for $150,000, alleging misappropriation of funds and negligence. "The accounting is ongoing, but I wouldn't be surprised if it approaches about $100,000" in misappropriated funds, said Joseph Kellerman, Sherm's lawyer. "I think we'll see some subpoenas for bank records." Repeated calls to Crawford at SAMIS were not returned. Her attorney, Carl Caplan, was unavailable, according to his answering service. Reached at the Crawfords' Pierce Road home, her husband, Jack Crawford, said: "I don't think she'll have a response." At least 10 other clients, including some public entities, may have lost money, said Medford police Lt. Mike Moran. However, he would not name any because the investigation is continuing. Sherm's accounting department noticed discrepancies in its bookkeeping about a month before Crawford was arrested, Moran said. An independent certified public accountant confirmed that money was missing from a trust account set aside to handle worker compensation claims. The accountant notified police. Police searched Crawford's business office on East Barnett Road, her home and a Medford warehouse where the company's business records are stored. Detectives seized an "unbelievably large amount of records" in connection with the case and housed them in a vacant room in Medford City Hall, Moran said. Other SAMIS clients were notified and asked to review their records with police and independent accountants. Two other SAMIS clients have told police that money appears to be missing from their accounts. Detectives discovered that money had been moved between accounts managed by SAMIS to cover money that allegedly had been taken and converted to Crawford's personal use. Moran would not say if the missing funds - some of which could be public money - were recovered. Police said they were not limiting their investigation to a specific time frame, but Kellerman, Sherm's attorney, said Crawford improperly used funds from the grocery store's accounts over four to five years and rebilled the grocery store for previously paid expenses. No other suspects have been arrested in connection with the case, and any additional charges would be presented to a Jackson County grand jury, said Deputy District Attorney Matt McCauley. "It's a big case, and it involves a lot of different victims," McCauley said. He had not reviewed any police reports Thursday and said he could not comment further on the case. McCauley said he expects police to finish their investigation in the next two weeks. He hopes to take the case before a grand jury by the end of the month. Reach reporter Sarah Lemon at 776-4487, or e-mail [email protected] Reach reporter Greg Stiles at 776-4463 or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.