Houston Tech Execs Hit with $1M Embezzlement Charges

Houston’s Kendra Blake and James Tillotson are facing federal charges for alleged embezzlement totaling over $1 million from their former employer, a local drilling technology company. The duo is accused of diverting funds to their own accounts through fraudulent means.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, 37-year-old Kendra Blake, also known as Kendra Walker, and 37-year-old James Tillotson are both charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and conducting monetary transactions in criminally derived property. Tillotson is also accused of making a false statement on a mortgage application.

The charges reveal that the alleged scheme took place between December 2022 and June 2024. During this time, Blake and Tillotson are said to have changed bank account information within the company’s payment system, leading to the diversion of funds to their control. Among these transactions was the addition of Blake’s own company, LL2L Trucking, as a vendor in the system, with subsequent fraudulent payments made.

Both defendants could face up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted. Tillotson may also be sentenced to an additional 30 years for making false statements on his mortgage application.

The investigation was conducted by the FBI, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Shirin Hakimzadeh handling the prosecution. It is important to note that an indictment is merely a formal accusation and does not indicate guilt; defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.

Blake made her initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Bryan on the morning of her arrest, while Tillotson had already appeared in federal court.