BREAUX BRIDGE, LA – Tracie Sonnier, 51, of Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, is headed to federal prison after admitting to a long-running scheme to steal over $335,000 from her employer. U.S. District Judge Michael J. Juneau sentenced Sonnier to 24 months behind bars, followed by three years of supervised release. The court also ordered her to fully reimburse Aries Marine Corporation the stolen $335,015.67.
The scheme unfolded over years, beginning around 1996 when Sonnier was hired as an administrative assistant and bookkeeper at Aries Marine Corporation. She remained with the company until her termination in May 2020. It wasn’t until after her firing that Aries discovered significant funds were missing from their accounts, triggering an investigation that would expose Sonnier’s deliberate deception.
Federal investigators with the U.S. Secret Service, working alongside the Lafayette Police Department, quickly determined Sonnier had been systematically diverting company funds to cover personal expenses. Using her position and access to Aries’ bank accounts, she crafted a calculated fraud, exploiting the trust placed in her over more than two decades of employment.
Sonnier pleaded guilty in July 2021 to a single count of wire fraud, a charge carrying a substantial penalty. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel J. McCoy led the prosecution, presenting evidence detailing the extent of the financial damage and Sonnier’s calculated actions. The guilty plea allowed her to avoid a potentially longer sentence, but the judge made it clear that such brazen theft would not be tolerated.
The Secret Service’s involvement highlights the agency’s expanding role in investigating financial crimes beyond its traditional focus on counterfeiting and currency. While known for protecting national leaders, the agency’s forensic accounting expertise proved crucial in untangling Sonnier’s web of deceit and quantifying the full extent of the loss to Aries Marine Corporation.
This case serves as a stark reminder that even seemingly low-level employees can inflict significant financial harm on businesses through abuse of trust. The 24-month sentence, combined with the restitution order, sends a clear message: white-collar crime will be investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, and those who betray the confidence of their employers will face serious consequences.
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Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
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