A former personal assistant to an NBA player has been sentenced to 70 months in prison for his role in a $4.7 million theft scheme.
Theodore Itsvan Joseph Kritza, 46, of Superior, Colorado, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Cindy K. Jorgenson on April 12, 2022, in Tucson, Arizona.
Kritza was ordered to pay $4,794,874 in restitution to the victim, an NBA player who hired him in April 2005 to serve as his personal assistant.
Between 2005 and 2012, Kritza fraudulently obtained funds by forging the victim’s signature on more than two dozen documents, including business loans, credit line applications, and a power of attorney.
Kritza also forged his employer’s signature to open a bank account in the victim’s name, allowing him to conceal his use of the victim’s personal funds.
Kritza stole money from the victim’s salary, endorsement contract, and sale of a condo, using the stolen funds to maintain a lavish lifestyle for his family.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office, Tucson, handled the prosecution, with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sandra M. Hansen and Jane L. Westby leading the case.
The FBI conducted the investigation, with Sean Kaul, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Phoenix Field Office, praising the work of his team.
Kritza’s sentencing sends a clear message that fraud is a serious crime, with serious consequences.
The case number is CR-17-00938-CKJ, and the release number is 2022-047_Kritza.
For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/.
Related Federal Cases
- Michael Tagle Santos, Wire Fraud, Arizona 2024 · New York
- Jeremie Sowerby, Wire Fraud, Arizona 2023 · Colorado
- Muhammed Drammeh, Identity Theft and Bank Fraud, Arizona 2026 · New York
- Stephen Allen Lamont, Medicare Fraud, Arizona 2023 · Colorado
- Ronald S. Schoenfeld, Honest Services Wire Fraud, California · Indiana
Key Facts
- State: Arizona
- Category: White Collar Crime|Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
ðŸâ€Â’ Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
