ALEXANDRIA, La. – Carlina Moore, 37, of Alexandria, Louisiana, is trading spreadsheets for striped prison uniforms after being sentenced to 12 months and 1 day in federal prison today, following a guilty plea to wire fraud. U.S. District Judge David C. Joseph also slapped her with three years of supervised release and a hefty restitution order of $121,600.50. The sentence closes a case exposing a calculated scheme to pilfer funds from a local school.
Moore, formerly the bookkeeper for the Montessori Educational Center, Inc. (MEC), abused her position of trust between May 2018 and August 2020. She was responsible for all in-house bookkeeping, a role that provided ample opportunity to siphon off money undetected. The scheme began to unravel on August 25, 2020, when a routine bank account review by MEC’s administrator flagged a suspicious transaction – the first crack in Moore’s carefully constructed deception.
That single questionable transaction triggered a deeper dive, revealing a pattern of unauthorized transfers and a systematic embezzlement of funds. Investigators quickly determined Moore wasn’t making a simple mistake; she was intentionally defrauding the MEC. The administrator’s scrutiny uncovered $121,600.50 missing from the school’s accounts, money Moore had diverted for her own personal gain.
The U.S. Secret Service took the lead on the investigation, confirming the fraudulent activity and tracing the funds as they moved through interstate commerce via wire communications. Moore ultimately admitted to devising and executing the scheme, acknowledging her intent to fraudulently obtain money and property from the MEC. The agency’s involvement highlights the Secret Service’s expanding role beyond its traditional protective duties, focusing increasingly on financial crimes that threaten institutions and individuals.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Danny Siefker successfully prosecuted the case, securing the conviction and ensuring Moore will face consequences for her actions. While the restitution order aims to recover the stolen funds, the damage to the Montessori Educational Center extends beyond the financial loss. The breach of trust within the school community will likely linger long after Moore completes her sentence.
This case serves as a stark reminder that even seemingly low-level positions can be exploited for criminal activity. The Secret Service continues to prioritize investigations into financial fraud, working to hold perpetrators accountable and safeguard both public and private institutions from those who seek to profit through deceit. Moore’s sentence sends a message: stealing from schools – or anyone else – will not be tolerated.
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Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
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