URBANA – A former assistant business dean at the University of Illinois College of Law has been charged with stealing $20,000 at her previous job working for a Chicago tourism agency.

Ming Liu, 38, of Urbana, who also is known as Ming Liu Bengtsson, was indicted for theft, official misconduct and forgery, according to Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez.

She is accused of stealing $20,000 intended to promote tourism while working as a project administrator with the city of Chicago's Department of Cultural Affairs from 1997 through June 2006, according to a release from the state's attorney's office.

The indictment said she handled accounting and banking functions for the Chicago Tourism Fund, giving her access to the fund's checking account. In July 2008, the Chicago inspector general's office discovered a copy of a $20,000 check that had a signature inconsistent with others issued by the tourism fund, the release said. The evidence was forwarded to the state's attorney.

In August 2004, prosecutors said, Liu created a $20,000 check payable to herself, then altered the payee in the electronic accounting system so it appeared to be payable to the U.S. Postal Service. She forged the signature of the Chicago Tourism Fund's executive director, then deposited the check into her personal checking account, the release said.

The majority of funding for the tourism fund comes from the city of Chicago, but it also receives private donations. The city reimburses the fund for postal expenses.

Liu entered a plea of innocent before Circuit Judge Timothy Joyce on Aug. 19, who set bond at $10,000.

UI documents show Ming Liu Bengtsson was hired June 1 as assistant dean for finance and human resources at the College of Law, at a salary of $115,000. Her appointment was approved at the July meeting of the UI Board of Trustees.

Liu worked for the UI from "June 1, 2009 to Aug. 31, 2009, when she resigned her position," law school spokesman Dave Johnson said.

Trustees in July also approved hiring her husband, Lars O. Bengtsson, as professor of finance effective Aug. 16, 2009, at a salary of $190,000.