Tampa, FL – A Riverview woman has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for embezzling over $400,000 from a senior citizen residential community.
U.S. District Judge Thomas Barber handed down the sentence to Victoria Zerillo, 49, after she pleaded guilty to wire fraud in August 2023. The court also ordered Zerillo to forfeit $410,963.78, the proceeds of the wire fraud.
According to court documents, Zerillo, who was employed as a general manager of a non-profit that provided repair services to the senior citizen community, conspired with others to commit wire fraud and embezzled the funds between December 2015 and November 2022.
Zerillo created false and fraudulent bank statements and destroyed records to cover up the embezzlement, spending the money on personal expenses such as luxury vacations. Members of the senior citizen community testified at sentencing that Zerillo’s actions had significantly harmed them financially.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer L. Peresie.
As part of the sentencing, the court ordered Zerillo to pay restitution to the victims. The National Elder Fraud Hotline is available to provide support to seniors who have been victims of financial fraud. The hotline can be reached at 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311) and is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET.
Those who have been victims of financial fraud or know someone who has are encouraged to report it to the authorities. Reporting financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses.
The case serves as a reminder of the importance of protecting vulnerable populations from financial exploitation. Law enforcement and prosecutors will continue to work to hold perpetrators accountable and bring them to justice.
Zerillo’s sentence is a result of her own actions and a demonstration of the consequences of committing financial crimes.
The sentencing is a victory for the victims and a reminder that those who commit financial crimes will be held accountable.
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Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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