Schmidt previously pled guilty to the indictment, which was returned in November of 2018, and which alleged that SCHMIDT stole more than $550,000 from a local architectural firm while employed as a bookkeeper there.
Schmidt admitted in documents filed in open court that starting in 2007 and continuing through 2017, SCHMIDT committed the offense through a series of fraudulent activities. The indictment further alleged that she used two different schemes to purloin the funds, which were in the care, custody of and control of several federally insured banks in the New Orleans area.
The indictment further alleged that her second scheme involved charging personal expenses on company credit cards issued to her. She paid the credit card charges using the automated clearing house (ACH) accounts of the firm, without the permission of the firm.
SCHMIDT faced up to 10 years incarceration, a $250,000 fine and restitution and 3 years supervised release. The court sentenced her to 33 months in federal prison, 3 years supervised release, and $591,488 in restitution.
U.S. Attorney Strasser praised the work of the United States Secret Service in investigating the matter. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Carter K.D. Guice Jr.
-- Eastern District of Lousiana