ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – In a shocking case of corporate betrayal, former comptroller Stephanie Pyle, 40, of Albuquerque, N.M., pleaded guilty to federal fraud and identity theft charges. Pyle’s crimes, which spanned nearly five years, resulted in a staggering loss of $1,531,124 to the Albuquerque-based construction company she once called her employer.
The indictment, filed on February 10, 2015, charged Pyle with 12 counts of fraud and identity theft. Counts 1 through 6 alleged that Pyle defrauded the company of approximately $1,531,124 between January 2010 and May 2014. Counts 7 through 12 charged Pyle with using the identity of another person to commit the fraudulent acts.
According to court documents, Pyle used her position as comptroller to obtain a credit card in her name, linked to a credit card account in the name of one of the co-owners of the company. She then changed the address on the account to reflect her home address, ensuring that her employer would not see the statements of expenditures made on the credit card.
Pyle’s scheme involved making thousands of personal charges and purchases on the credit card that she was not authorized to make. She also used the name and credit card account of her employer without authorization to facilitate her criminal conduct.
As a result of her guilty plea, Pyle faces a statutory maximum penalty of ten years in prison for her conviction on Count 1 of the indictment, an access device fraud charge. She also faces a mandatory two years in prison that must be served consecutive to any sentence imposed on Count 1 for her conviction on Count 7, an aggravated identity theft charge. Pyle will also be required to pay restitution in an amount to be determined by the court, currently estimated at $2,409,910.
The case was investigated by the Albuquerque office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy Peña. The case highlights the importance of vigilance in corporate settings, where employees can often have access to sensitive financial information.
Pyle’s case is a stark reminder that corporate betrayal can have severe consequences. The case serves as a warning to businesses and individuals alike to be aware of the potential risks of internal theft and the importance of implementing robust controls to prevent such crimes.
The court will determine the exact amount of restitution Pyle will be required to pay at a later date. In the meantime, Pyle faces a lengthy prison sentence and the prospect of making significant restitution to the victim company.
Related Federal Cases
- David William Welbig, Aggravated Identity Theft, New Mexico 2014 · Colorado
- Marquis Williams Sentenced to Mail Theft, Hartford CT, 2023 · Puerto Rico
- Christopher Ferguson, Securities Fraud, New York 2020 · Ohio
- John Q. Smith, $50M Fraud Ring, Washington DC, 2025 · Washington
- United Parcel Service, Wage Theft, New York NY, 2023 · New York
Key Facts
- State: New Mexico
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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