BROWARD OFFICE MANAGER PLEADS GUILTY TO STEALING MORE THAN $647,799 FROM EMPLOYER
Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Michael K. Fithen, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Secret Service, Miami Field Office, announced that defendant Kelly Lisa Duncan, 46, of Fort Lauderdale, pled guilty today to a Criminal Information charging her with one count of mail fraud involving the theft of funds from her employer totaling over $647,799.
Sentencing is scheduled for May 20, 2011 at 10:00am before U.S. District Judge James I. Cohn. Duncan faces a maximum statutory sentence of up to 20 years in prison and fine of up to $250,000 and restitution.
According to the Criminal Information and statements made in court during today’s plea hearing, Duncan was an office manager at Veterinarian Management Associates Inc., in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. As office manager, Duncan handled the books, records and bank accounts of the company. According to the charges and statements made in court, between December 2004 and October 2010, Duncan embezzled more than $647,799 from the company’s bank accounts by issuing payroll checks to non-existent employees and issuing second payroll checks to employees, which she later cashed at a local bank, using the money for her own benefit.
As part of the plea agreement announced in court today, Duncan agreed to make mandatory restitution of $647,799 to Veterinarian Management Associates, Inc.
Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the U.S. Secret Service. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey H. Kay.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at http://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
