Former bookkeeper pleads guilty to stealing nearly $150,000 from Crowley company

ALEXANDNRIA, La. – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that Otavia L. Lewis, 38, of Crowley, pleaded guilty Wednesday before U.S. District Judge Dee D. Drell for stealing more than $148,000 from a Crowley company.

According to the guilty plea, Lewis worked as a bookkeeper for a Crowley equipment company from March 2014 to May 2016. She used accounting software to transfer funds from the company’s bank account to accounts and debit cards she and others controlled. She also attempted to hide her actions by covering for the payments using other employees’ names. Lewis stole $148,753.28 during the course of the scheme.

Lewis faces up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine.  The court set the sentencing date for August 5, 2019.

The U.S. Secret Service conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney T. Forrest Phillips is prosecuting the case.