Maui Bookkeeper Steals $373K From Mom & Son

HONOLULU, HI – Felicidad Rivera, 51, of Maui, admitted in federal court today to systematically draining the bank accounts of a mother-son business duo, pilfering over $373,682 over a seven-year period. Rivera, a professional bookkeeper, plead guilty to 13 counts of wire fraud, a betrayal of trust that left the victims financially crippled.

According to court documents unsealed today, Rivera began her scheme in December 2008, gaining access to the financial lifelines of two Maui businesses operated by a family. She leveraged her position, initially earning the confidence of the owners, before twisting her access into a personal slush fund. Rivera falsely claimed funds were needed for legitimate business expenses, a lie designed to mask her illicit transfers into her own personal checking account.

The scope of the fraud is staggering. Rivera penned 193 checks to herself, totaling approximately $334,450. But the check fraud was only part of the scheme. She also directed the victim’s business accounts to directly pay her personal monthly credit card bills – a brazen act of theft totaling another $75,488 across 87 transactions. The victims remained completely unaware of the ongoing drain on their resources.

To cover her tracks, Rivera meticulously falsified the accounting books for both businesses. She then presented these doctored records to the victims’ tax accountant, attempting to conceal the theft during tax preparation. This wasn’t a momentary lapse in judgment; it was a calculated, sustained effort to defraud and deceive. The FBI investigation peeled back layer after layer of her carefully constructed lies.

United States Attorney for the District of Hawaii, Florence T. Nakakuni, stated the case was built on solid evidence presented in court. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson prosecuted the case, securing the guilty plea from Rivera. The FBI led the investigation, painstakingly tracing the stolen funds and uncovering the extent of the fraud.

Rivera faces a harsh reckoning. She is scheduled to be sentenced on June 5, 2017, and could receive a maximum sentence of five years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine for each of the 13 counts to which she plead guilty. This case serves as a stark reminder of the devastating impact of white-collar crime and the importance of vigilant oversight of financial professionals. # # #