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Former Purchasing Agent Pleads Guilty to Embezzlement
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Vanessa Vicenti, a 46-year-old former purchasing agent for the Jicarilla Apache Nation, has pleaded guilty to embezzling funds from the tribe.
According to court documents, Vicenti embezzled approximately $23,039.23 from the Jicarilla Apache Nation between December 2010 and May 2011. She also used the tribe’s credit card to make eight separate unauthorized purchases totaling over $1,000.
Vicenti, who was employed as the purchasing agent from February 2007 to June 2011, had access to and use of the tribe’s Sam’s Club credit card for authorized purchases. However, she used the card to make purchases for gift cards, alcohol, groceries, clothes, and cosmetics for herself and her family.
Vicenti concealed her embezzlement scheme by intercepting the credit card bills and modifying them before submitting them to the billing department for payment. She was suspended from her position in May 2011 and terminated after a full investigation in June 2011.
Under the terms of her plea agreement, Vicenti will be sentenced to a one to five year term of probation and will be required to pay $5,000 in restitution to the tribe. The restitution amount is the difference between the total unauthorized purchases and the amount that the Jicarilla Apache Nation has been reimbursed by its insurer.
Vicenti will remain on conditions of release and under pretrial supervision pending her sentencing hearing, which has yet to be scheduled.
The case was investigated by the Farmington office of the FBI, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristopher N. Houghton is prosecuting the case.
Key Facts
- State: New Mexico
- Category: White Collar Crime|Public Corruption|Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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