Accountant Indicted for Embezzling More than $715,000 From Spokane Medical Practice

Spokane, Washington – Today, Vanessa R. Waldref, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced that a grand jury returned an Indictment charging Carol Casilla, age 25, of Spokane, Washington, with forty-six counts of fraud in connection with Casilla’s theft of more than $715,000 from a Spokane medical practice at which she was employed between 2020 and 2023. 

Between May 2020 and March 2023, Casilla was employed as an accountant by Spokane Dermatology Clinic (SDC), a dermatological practice located in Spokane.  The Indictment alleges that, while employed at SDC, Casilla used her position to fraudulently issue company checks to herself and deposit them into her own personal accounts, and to make electronic funds transfers using company funds toward her personal credit cards.  The Indictment alleges that some of the transfers were made to a fictitious company that Casilla created in order to make it appear as though the transfers were for legitimate company expenditures.  According to the Indictment, Casilla made hundreds of fraudulent transfers in this manner, stealing more than $715,000 in total. 

“Accountants, bookkeepers, and financial professionals have access to funds and sensitive financial information,” said United States Attorney Waldref.  “When they abuse that access in order to line their own pockets, they devastate our communities.  We will continue to work hand-in-glove with our law enforcement partners and with the community to hold accountable those individuals who abuse their positions of trust.” 

The fraud charges carry maximum sentences of up to 30 years in federal prison.  This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Spokane Resident Agency.  Assistant United States Attorneys Dan Fruchter and Tyler H.L. Tornabene are prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States. 

An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

United States v. Casilla, Case No: 2-23-CR-00085-TOR