San Antonio Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Embezzling over $450,000

In San Antonio today, 44-year-old Helen Benevides Mora Picaso, former office manager for a San Antonio businessman, was sentenced to 20 months in federal prison for embezzling from her employer announced United States Attorney Richard L. Durbin, Jr. and FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Combs. 

In addition to the prison term, United States District Judge Orlando Garcia ordered that Benevides pay $464,132.27 restitution to her former employer and be placed on supervised release for a period of three years after completing her prison term.  Judge Garcia also ordered that Benevides surrender to federal authorities on or before February 9, 2017, in order to begin serving her prison term.

On November 9, 2015, Benevides pleaded guilty to ten counts of embezzlement.  By pleading guilty, she admitted that for over six years until she was fired in May 2014, she stole monies from her employer by writing approximately 485 unauthorized business checks to herself, her family members, or to pay her personal credit card bills.  Benevides admitted concealing her scheme by making false entries on check stubs with respect to amounts and payees.

This case was investigated by FBI and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christina Playton.