With tactics seemingly straight out of true crime television, a Middlesex County woman working as an office manager admitted to masterminding a bank fraud scheme that involved writing fraudulent business checks totaling $1.7 million.

Tammy L. Martinez, 46, of South Amboy, pleaded guilty on Tuesday before U.S. District Judge Claire C. Cecchi in Newark to one count of bank fraud, according to a release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for New Jersey.

The crime carries a prison sentence of up to 30 years and a fine of up to $1 million, according to a release, which said Martinez's sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 11, 2020.

Prosecutors, noting court testimony and documents, said Martinez committed her crimes from January 2014 through March 2019, while she was employed as an office manager and bookkeeper for a New Jersey-based company. The company was not identified in the court documents.

Martinez used her position to issue fraudulent checks made payable to herself or forged the signature of her manager on company checks, which she would later cash at state bank branches, the release said.

The checks, authorities said, totaled more than $1.7 million in losses to the company over a nearly five-year period.

Peter Carter of the Federal Public Defender's Office-Newark Division is representing Martinez. Carter did not immediately return a call.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jamel Semper of the U.S. Attorney's Office Economic Crimes Unit, the release noted.