A Spring resident is facing a potential 20-year tenure in federal prison after pleading guilty to a wire fraud scheme that saw her embezzle over $900,000 from a local HVAC company. Sonia Yvonne Rodriguez, 51, who worked as an office manager, admitted to the theft of $938,387.26, funds destined for federal tax payments, over a five-year period from 2015 to 2020, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Texas.
Employed by the heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning company for nearly 26 years, Rodriguez falsified payment records into her personal bank account post disguising them as tax payments. After initiating the supposed tax payments through the company's accounting software, she would clear these transactions from the register, effectively funneling the money to herself. This detailed web of deceit was narrated during her plea.
U.S. District Judge Alfred H. Bennett oversaw the proceedings and has scheduled Rodriguez’s sentencing for November 21, where she also faces the possibility of a $250,000 fine. Keeping her on bond until the sentencing date, Rodriguez's admissions bring a sense of closure to the company troubled by her longstanding fraudulent activities, as detailed by U.S. Attorney's Office.
The case was brought to a head by the U.S. Secret Service, with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sherin Daniel and James Hu leading the prosecution.
