Former Quincy woman, now living in Florida, charged with stealing $150,000 from Ursa business

QUINCY — A Daytona Beach, Fla., woman made her first appearance Friday morning in Adams County Circuit Court after she was charged with theft.

Olivia Wiemelt, 28, appeared without an attorney Friday morning in front of Judge Debra Wellborn. A warrant was issued for her arrest on June 12. The warrant was served by the Adams County Sheriff’s Department and an arrest was made by the Hannibal Police Department in Hannibal, Mo., on July 20.

She posted 10 percent of a $50,000 bond and was released from custody on July 21.

Wiemelt has been charged with a Class 1 felony of theft more than $100,000. The charging document in her case alleges that between Nov. 6, 2020, and Feb. 10, 2023, continuing enforcement of the unauthorized control of the property of Kayser Lure Corp., determined that Wiemelt stole $151,019.50.

If Wiemelt is found guilty of the Class 1 felony, she is eligible to receive a sentence in the Illinois Department of Corrections of four to 15 years.

Wellborn allowed Wiemelt to travel back to Florida between court appearances in Quincy.

When Wellborn asked what she was going to do about an attorney, Wiemelt replied, “I’m going to hire an attorney. The state has had my phone in custody for the past month, and they just let me know that I could get it back. Once I get that, I will be able to contact who I need to contact.”

Wellborn set Wiemelt’s next appearance in court for Sept. 20 before Judge Tad Brenner.

“Can I ask you a question?” Wiemelt asked. “Do you have that on record of what (law enforcement officials) took out of my phone? I just don’t understand how I’m still being charged with this charge.”

“All I can tell you is I know they filed this charge, and it says they filed it on June 12,” Wellborn replied. “I was told to advise you about the possibilities today, but other than that, I don’t know at this time.”

Wiemelt then asked if State’s Attorney Gary Farha was in the courthouse. Wellborn said she didn’t know that, either.

“Bob and Gary are friends, and this just doesn’t make sense,” Wiemelt said.

Wiemelt’s reference to “Bob” likely was in regard to Bob Lansing, who owns the property at 107 Junction in Ursa. That address is home of Kayser Lure Corp., which is described on its website as the “leading manufacturer of fishing lure fiber weed guard products and StarFlash round silicone fishing lure skirts.”

“Kayser Lure and its premium products sprang from a small machinery/engineering shop back in 1983 and continued to evolve into what is now an exceptional internationally marketed company that still operates out of the small community of Ursa, which it has now for over 30 years,” the website reads.

Lansing bought the property from Carol and Terry Kayser in August 2017 for $100,000. He kept the property under his name until August 2022 when it was transferred to LJSA Properties LLC, a Missouri manager-managed limited liability company for which Lansing is listed as the manager.