Couple Sentenced For Wire Fraud and Identity Theft

G.F. “Pete” Peterman, III, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia, announces that sentences were imposed upon Tamara Andreatta, age 45, and Stacy Rix, 47, both of Albany, on January 19, 2017, in Albany, GA, by the Honorable Leslie J. Abrams, District Judge for the Middle District of Georgia. Following a jury trial in September 2016, both defendants were convicted of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and seven counts of wire fraud. Ms. Andreatta was also convicted of two counts of aggravated identity theft. Ms. Andreatta was sentenced on Friday to a term of 61 months imprisonment to be followed by a term of three years supervised release. Mr. Rix was sentenced to a term of 24 months imprisonment to be followed by a term of three years supervised release. In addition, both defendants were ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $466,692.41.

The evidence at trial showed that the defendants, who lived together, were both employed at Industrial Manufacturing, an Albany business that manufactures machine parts and equipment. Ms. Andreatta was employed as a bookkeeper and Mr. Rix worked as a mechanic. During a seven-year period beginning in November 2006, Ms. Andreatta used Mr. Rix’s company credit card and the company credit cards of two other employees who had left the company, to obtain over $450,000 in goods, services, and cash for her and Mr. Rix’s personal benefit. The cards were used to purchase groceries and other household items, pay car payments and other bills, pay for vacations, including a Caribbean cruise, and for various other purposes.

“Theft from an employer, who trusted you enough to both give you a job and to put you in a position where you had access to company accounts, believing you to be honest, is as ungrateful an act as it is illegal. These defendants fully deserve the sentences they received in this case,” said United States Attorney Peterman.

The case was investigated by agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney K. Alan Dasher.

Questions concerning this case should be directed to Pamela Lightsey, Public Information Officer, United States Attorney’s Office, at (478) 621-2603.