Midland Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Stealing More Than $1 Million from Her Employer

In Midland this morning, 54-year-old Margo McKinney was sentenced to five years in federal prison for defrauding her employer of over $1,000,000 announced Acting United States Attorney Richard L. Durbin, Jr.

In addition to the prison term, Senior United States District Judge Robert Junell ordered that McKinney pay $1,078,799.96 restitution to her victim and be placed on supervised release for a period of three years after completing her prison term.  Judge Junell also ordered McKinney to surrender to federal authorities by June 10, 2015, to begin serving her prison term.

On February 27, 2015, McKinney pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud.  By pleading guilty, McKinney admitted that from September 2007 until April 2014, she stole money from an Odessa businessman while working as a bookkeeper who had signature authority over one business account.  McKinney admittedly wrote company checks to herself and to “cash” to pay the mortgage on her residence, purchase jewelry and for expenses related to her hobby--boarding and training horses for competitions.

This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service.  Assistant United States Attorney Austin Berry prosecuted this case on behalf of the Government.