April 13 , 2010

WICHITA BOOKKEEPER SENTENCED FOR EMBEZZLING FROM LAW FIRM

WICHITA, KAN. - Vicki J. Olivarez, 34, Wichita, Kan., has been sentenced to 51 months in federal prison for stealing more than $948,000 from her employer, Pistotnik Law Offices, P.A.

Olivarez pleaded guilty to two counts of writing checks and forging signatures on the checks, which were drawn on the law firm’s client trust account. In her plea, she admitted that from 2004 through 2009 she wrote numerous unauthorized checks on the law firm’s client trust account totaling more than $948,000. She deposited the stolen money into her personal accounts and used it to make payments on real property she owned in Andover, Kan.

U.S. District Judge J. Thomas Marten also imposed a forfeiture money judgment against Olivarez of $948,041 including her interest in the property at 1017 West Walnut Court in Andover. U.S. Attorney Lanny Welch commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Metzger for their work on the case.