BROWARD OFFICE MANAGER SENTENCED ON MAIL FRAUD CHARGE FOR 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 today’s sentencing of Kelly Lisa Duncan, 46,of Fort Lauderdale, on mail fraud. On February 15, 2011, Duncan had pled guilty to one count of mail fraud involving the theft of approximately $647,799 from her employer.
U.S. District Judge James I. Cohn sentenced Duncan to a term of 41 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. In addition, she was ordered to pay $647,799 in restitution.
According to the Criminal Information and statements made in court during the plea hearing, Duncan was an office manager at Veterinarian Management Associates Inc., located on East Commercial Blvd, in Fort Lauderdale. In this capacity, Duncan handled and had access to the books, records and bank accounts of the company. According to the Information and statements made in court, between December 2004 and October 2010, Duncan embezzled more than $647,799 from the company’s bank accounts by creating fraudulent payroll checks to nonexistent employees and bogus second payroll checks to employees. She later cashed the checks at a local bank and used the money for her personal benefit.
Mr. Ferrer commended the investigative efforts of the United States 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.
