PHOENIX, ARIZONA – Former Phoenix resident Shana Raelisa Johnson, 35, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced to 44 months in prison and ordered to pay more than $2 million in restitution for embezzlement.
Johnson, a former accountant at a property management company in Phoenix, stole more than $2.4 million from her employer by issuing fraudulent checks and making unauthorized electronic transfers between 2008 and 2014.
After discovering her theft, Johnson moved to Atlanta and applied for a similar position at another property management company, where she gave a fictitious reference and other false information to prevent her new employer from contacting her previous employer.
Johnson was hired in early 2015 and proceeded to steal nearly $500,000 from her new employer by falsifying bank statements and other financial records.
‘Employee embezzlement is a growing problem that presents a significant threat to local businesses,’ stated Acting U.S. Attorney Elizabeth A. Strange. ‘The United States Attorney’s Office takes this kind of criminal conduct very seriously and will continue to aggressively prosecute financial frauds.’
The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s Office of Inspector General and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation.
The prosecution was handled by M. Bridget Minder and Andrew Stone, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Phoenix.
Mandatory Facts:
- Defendant: Shana Raelisa Johnson, 35, of Atlanta, Georgia
- Criminal Charges: Wire fraud
- City and State: Phoenix, Arizona
- Date: Sentenced on not specified
- Sentence: 44 months in prison and ordered to pay more than $2 million in restitution
- Amount: Over $2.4 million
Key Facts
- State: Arizona
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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