Alexandria Woman Convicted Of Embezzlement

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Julissa Rauhut, 45, formerly of Springfield, Virginia, was convicted today on five counts of wire fraud after embezzling over $186,000 from her employer from 2009 to 2011.

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Earl L. Cook, Alexandria Chief of Police, made the announcement after the verdict was accepted by U.S. District Judge James C. Cacheris.

Rauhut was indicted on May 22, 2014 by a federal grand jury on the wire fraud charges.  According to court records and evidence at trial, between December 2008 and August 2011, Rauhut worked as a personal assistant at a law firm in Alexandria.  While there she stole 120 checks and 64 money orders that were intended as payments to her employer and deposited them into her personal checking account at Bank of America.  In total, Rauhut embezzled $186,178.93.

Rauhut faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each count when she is sentenced on Dec. 18, 2014. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service Metro Area Fraud Task Force (MAFTF), which includes agents from the U.S. Secret Service and the Alexandria Police Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Hanly and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Della Sentilles prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.  Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:14-cr-186.