FORMER NRG INC. EMPLOYEE SENTENCED TO PRISON

(HOUSTON) – An employee of NRG Energy Inc. has been sentenced to prison for defrauding her former employer of more than $600,000, United States Attorney José Angel Moreno announced today.

Dorothy J. Samuel-Harris, 44, of Sugar Land, Texas, who pleaded guilty in April 2010 to wire fraud for defrauding her former employer - NRG Energy Inc., was sentenced today by United States District Judge David HIttner to a 33-month prison term to be followed by a three-year-term of supervised release. The court further ordered Samuel-Harris to pay restitution to NRG Energy in the amount of $674,332.

In April 2008, while employed at NRG in Houston, Samuel-Harris submitted an e-mail to another NRG employee in New Jersey to change the bank account information for an NRG vendor. The new back account information was to an account owned by Samuel-Harris. The change in account information resulted in NRG sending payments intended for that vendor to Samuel-Harris’ bank account. Samuel-Harris also admitted changing the bank account information for yet another NRG vendor so that payments from NRG intended for that vendor also went into her bank account. NRG lost $674,332 as a result of her fraud. 

The court has permitted the defendant to remain on bond pending the issuance of an order to surrender to a Bureau of Prisons to be designated in the near future.

The United States Secret Service conducted the investigation leading to the charges against Samuel-Harris. Assistant United States Attorney John Braddock prosecuted the case.

 

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