RIO RANCHO, NM – For seven years, Christina Joyner, 47, lived a double life, pilfering over $2 million from her employer, Quanz Motor Car Company (doing business as Quanz Auto Body), while maintaining the facade of a trusted bookkeeper. Joyner pleaded guilty today in Albuquerque federal court to wire fraud, admitting to a meticulously crafted scheme to line her pockets at the expense of the company she served for a quarter-century.
According to court records, Joyner, responsible for the financial health of Quanz’s four locations, abused her position of trust between July 2014 and September 2021. She wasn’t just skimming; this was a calculated, long-term operation. Joyner possessed the authority to sign company checks, but not to write them to herself – a detail she conveniently ignored. Instead, she issued checks payable to herself, cleverly coding them as legitimate business expenses to avoid detection.
The scheme didn’t stop at fraudulent checks. Joyner also leveraged company credit cards for personal online purchases, and routinely pocketed cash from company transactions. She wasn’t simply borrowing; she was stealing, and covering her tracks with a disturbing level of premeditation. Court documents reveal Joyner even set email reminders to herself to manipulate the accounting software, ensuring her fraudulent activity remained hidden.
The depth of Joyner’s deception extended to her family. She created fake pay stubs for her husband, providing fraudulent proof of income to secure loans. This wasn’t just about personal gain; it was about building a life on a foundation of lies and stolen money. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico is now seeking forfeiture of any assets acquired through the illicit funds.
The investigation, led by the Albuquerque Resident Office of the United States Secret Service, uncovered the full scope of Joyner’s scheme. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Brawley will prosecute the case, seeking the maximum penalty for the seven years of betrayal. Joyner now faces up to 20 years in federal prison.
A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled, but one thing is certain: Christina Joyner’s carefully constructed world of deceit has crumbled. The case serves as a stark reminder that even those in positions of trust are not immune to the consequences of greed and fraud. This investigation demonstrates the Secret Service’s commitment to pursuing financial crimes that undermine the integrity of businesses and the economy.
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Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
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