A former controller at a Lawrence sign company has been indicted for accessing company computers to increase her own salary and make fraudulent financial transactions, federal prosecutors said Thursday.

Barbra James, 40, of Lenexa, is charged with four counts of wire fraud and one count of unlawful computer intrusion for the crimes, which allegedly occurred between November 2004 and March 2005, while she was employed by Star Signs and Graphics, 801 E. Ninth St.

“She forged more than $8,000 worth of checks, made 14 unauthorized purchases totaling more than $4,000, and made unauthorized online withdrawals from the company’s account totaling more than $3,800,” Jim Cross, United States attorney spokesman, said of the indictment.

Lawrence police and the U.S. Secret Service investigated the crimes.