New Hampshire Woman Sentenced to Prison for Wire Fraud
A federal judge handed down a sentence of 30 months in prison and three years of supervised release to 39-year-old Stephanie Pratt for wire fraud on Thursday.
The Crime
Pratt stole nearly $500,000 from her employer in 2021, using her position as office administrator to cash unauthorized checks and make over 1,000 unauthorized personal purchases using the company’s credit cards.
Theft and Misuse of Funds
Prosecutors say Pratt spent the stolen money on lavish items, including tickets to watch Tom Brady’s return to Gillette Stadium, a hot tub, plane tickets, and over $50,000 worth of items from Amazon.
Judge’s Ruling
U.S. Attorney Jane Young said in a statement, “The defendant used her position of trust as an employee to steal nearly a half-million dollars from a small New Hampshire business. Among other items, she used the stolen money to purchase a hot tub and she spent over $5,600 on lavish tickets to watch Tom Brady’s return to Gillette Stadium.”
Background
Pratt had previously served a sentence for stealing from a previous employer and began her fraud only six months after her release. She had full access to the company’s finances, including its bank accounts and credit cards, and stole $492,325 over the course of 6 1/2 years.
The Investigation
Prosecutors said Pratt repeatedly lied to the company about the thefts, even claiming that the owner had her cash the checks to funnel the money to the owner’s son, who had already died. She also doctored the company’s financial records and claimed that her misuse of the company credit card was due to her clicking the wrong button at checkout.
The Sentence
Pratt pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud in August and was sentenced to 30 months in prison and three years of supervised release. Jodi Cohen, special agent in charge of the FBI Boston Division, called Pratt “a greedy, serial fraudster” in a statement.
Conclusion
Pratt’s sentence serves as a reminder of the consequences of committing fraud and the importance of honesty and integrity in the workplace. Her actions caused significant financial harm to her employer and demonstrate a blatant disregard for the law.
FAQs
Q: How much did Stephanie Pratt steal from her employer?
A: Pratt stole nearly $500,000 from her employer in 2021.
Q: What did Pratt use the stolen money for?
A: Pratt used the stolen money to purchase lavish items, including tickets to watch Tom Brady’s return to Gillette Stadium, a hot tub, plane tickets, and over $50,000 worth of items from Amazon.
Q: How long did Pratt’s fraud go on for?
A: Pratt’s fraud went on for 6 1/2 years, from 2014 to 2021.
Q: What was Pratt’s sentence?
A: Pratt was sentenced to 30 months in prison and three years of supervised release.
Q: What did the judge call Pratt?
A: The judge did not explicitly call Pratt a specific name, but Jodi Cohen, special agent in charge of the FBI Boston Division, referred to her as “a greedy, serial fraudster” in a statement.
