Kayla Figelski, Bank Fraud and Identity Theft, Massachusetts 2019

A Malden woman has been accused of embezzling over $795,000 from her employer, a law firm in Malden.

Kayla Figelski, 32, was charged with seven counts of bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.

The scheme allegedly took place between April 2017 and June 2019, during which time Figelski stole at least $795,000 from her employer.

Figelski allegedly forged checks to herself from her employer's checking accounts, including conservatorship and trust accounts, and deposited the checks into her own account. She then withdrew the funds or directly cashed the checks.

To hide her scheme, Figelski modified bank statements to make it appear that the checks were written out to legitimate vendors rather than to herself.

Figelski was previously charged and arrested on December 19, 2019.

Andrew E. Lelling, the United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts, and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Boston Field Division, made the announcement today.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen A. Kearney is prosecuting the case.

The charge of bank fraud provides a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, five years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $1 million.

The charging statute for aggravated identity theft provides for a mandatory sentence of two years in prison to be served consecutive to any other sentence imposed, up to one year of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss.

Figelski is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/pr/malden-woman-indicted-bank-fraud-and-identity-theft-charges