A Prior Lake woman acting as bookkeeper for her boyfriend has been charged with embezzlement for transferring some of his money to her own accounts.

According to the criminal complaint, Julene Mertz, 47, is facing charges of theft by swindle of her ex-boyfriend from April 2007 to October 2009.

Mertz had made an arrangement with Rick Thomas to be his bookkeeper in exchange for living expenses, but Thomas said he did not give her permission to take money from his accounts. Police reviewed bank records and found almost $40,000 was transferred to her accounts during that three year span.

Mertz faces up to 20 years in prison or a $100,000 dollar fine if convicted.