Press Release
Stamford Woman Pleads Guilty to Fraud Offense Stemming from Embezzlement Scheme
For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Connecticut
John H. Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that CANDACE RISPOLI, 31, of Stamford, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden in Bridgeport to one count of wire fraud stemming from an embezzlement scheme.
According to court documents and statements made in court, from approximately January 2012 until June 2016, RISPOLI was employed by Lodestone Management Consultants, later known as Infosys Consulting (the “Company”). Beginning in approximately 2013, RISPOLI worked for the Company from her former home in East Haven, which she shared with her then-boyfriend, Michael Miano. In her capacity as a Company employee, RISPOLI had an American Express credit card to use to pay for travel, entertainment and other business expenses incurred by the Company’s employees and potential employees.
From approximately 2013 until July 2016, RISPOLI wrongfully charged more than $250,000 of her own and Miano’s personal expenses to the Company’s American Express card. RISPOLI also wrongfully transferred more than $800,000 in funds from the Company’s American Express card to PayPal and Venmo accounts controlled by RISPOLI and Miano. To conceal her scheme, RISPOLI altered the Company’s American Express account statements and created false billing summaries, which she emailed to the Company’s accounting firm.
In pleading guilty, RISPOLI has agreed to pay $1,098,176 in restitution.
Wire fraud carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years. A sentencing date is not scheduled.
RISPOLI is released on a $100,000 bond pending sentencing.
On September 1, 2017, Miano, 31, of Branford, guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud related to this scheme. He awaits sentencing.
This investigation has been conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Heather Cherry and Jonathan Francis.
Updated June 25, 2018
Topic
Financial Fraud
Component