A Beltsville, Md., woman who worked as a claims adjuster for Nationwide Insurance will spend the next five years on probation after pleading guilty to stealing from the insurer.

Shironda Aretha Jones, 32, made the guilty plea to a single count of felony theft over $500, according to the Maryland Attorney General’s Office.

A Baltimore City Circuit Court judge sentenced Jones to a suspended prison term of three years, five years supervised probation and 40 hours of community service.

She must also pay $16,033 in restitution to Nationwide.

Working as a claims adjuster for the insurer from September 2006 until September 2007, Jones wrote checks to herself as the payee, and endorsed and deposited the checks into her personal bank account. She fraudulently indicated that the checks were written on legitimate claims.

Jones was charged following an investigation by the Insurance Fraud Division of the Maryland Insurance Administration and the Office of the Attorney General.