Amy Burley, 47, of Barnstead

CONCORD — Amy Burley, 47, of Barnstead, has pleaded guilty in federal court to embezzling more than $130,000 from both the Barnstead and Hampton school districts, according to United States Attorney for New Hampshire Jane E. Young.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Burley was employed as a bookkeeper for Barnstead School District and then Hampton School District. In her role, Burley processed payroll and handled the payment of invoices.

Burley used her access at Barnstead School District to alter her payroll information, make student loan payments and payments to personal creditors, and pay for an Amazon account charged to Barnstead but controlled by Burley, totaling $110,295.

Authorities launched an investigation in September 2019 after the Barnstead School District discovered several unusual discrepancies regarding the appropriations of funds, Barnstead police said at the time.

The charges filed against her include fraudulent use of a credit card, seven counts of theft by unauthorized taking, and attempted theft by unauthorized taking, police said.

Following her termination from Barnstead, Burley was hired as a bookkeeper at Hampton School District, where she used her position to use district funds to pay student loans and credit cards belonging to her or her family members, totaling $20,966.

Burley is scheduled to be sentenced on June 1.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Education Office of the Inspector General, and the Barnstead Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John J. Kennedy.

–JEFFREY HASTINGS