Former Bookkeeper Sentenced for Embezzlement and Loan Fraud

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A former bookkeeper was sentenced today to over five years in prison for embezzling funds from a Newport News medical practice and then obtaining a fraudulent SBA-guaranteed loan using the identification information of her father.

According to court documents, Amanda Viglietta, 32, of Newport News, was employed as the bookkeeper for Advanced ENT & Allergy from April through December 2016. In the course of her employment, Viglietta forged her employer’s signature on checks from Advanced ENT’s TowneBank account and caused such checks to be issued to herself, her boyfriend and to other persons and businesses to whom and which she owed money. In an effort to conceal the fraud, Viglietta made fraudulent entries in the QuickBooks records of Advanced ENT and created fake invoices. Vigilietta also made unauthorized and fraudulent use of the credit/debit cards associated with Advanced ENT.  Altogether, she fraudulently misappropriated funds in the approximate amount of $180,000 from Advanced ENT.

After the misappropriation from Advanced ENT came to light and Viglietta was terminated in December 2016, she established a limited liability company called Mumbling Mikes, LLC. In February 2017, using this entity, she made application and obtained a United States Small Business Administration (SBA) guaranteed loan from Celtic Bank, using identifying information of her father, without his knowledge or authorization. Viglietta obtained approximately $148,400 in loan funds and used large portions of this approved business loan on personal expenditures and obtaining cashier’s checks.

G. Zachary Terwilliger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Peter R. Rendina, Inspector in Charge of the Washington Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Hannibal “Mike” Ware, Inspector General of the Small Business Administration (SBA), and Steve R. Drew, Chief of Newport News Police made the announcement after sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge Mark S. Davis. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian J. Samuels prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:18-cr-36.