2 Iowa women plead guilty to embezzling millions
Criminal Law
Two Iowa women pleaded guilty Thursday to federal felony charges that they embezzled nearly $6 million from West Des Moines insurer Aviva USA.
The charges come nearly a year after Phyllis Stevens, 59, was arrested at a Las Vegas hotel. An Aviva employee discovered more than $5.9 million in company funds had been funneled into an Indianapolis bank account held by the couple.
Federal prosecutors in Iowa said both Phyllis Stevens and Marla Stevens, 58, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering and conspiracy to file false income tax returns. Phyllis Stevens also pleaded guilty to counts of wire fraud, computer fraud and filing a false income tax return.
Phyllis Stevens admitted stealing the money by making fraudulent entries into the computer system at Aviva. She also admitted to buying real estate and paying large credit card bills with the money, prosecutors said. Marla Stevens admitted she knew about and participated in the scheme.
Related listings
-
Ind. teen who killed brother breaks down in court
Criminal Law 09/17/2010An Indiana teenager who pleaded guilty to murder has broken down while watching video of himself telling police how he strangled his 10-year-old brother.Ohio Circuit Court Judge James D. Humphrey recessed court twice for a total of nearly an hour Thu...
-
Man who tried to fake death pleads guilty to fraud
Criminal Law 09/16/2010An Indiana money manager who once led a high-flying lifestyle pleaded guilty to five securities fraud counts on Wednesday, nearly two years after he tried to fake his death in a Florida plane crash to escape the crush of financial and personal proble...
-
Defendant pleads guilty in NJ in $880M fraud case
Criminal Law 09/15/2010A Florida man has pleaded guilty in New Jersey to running a multistate Ponzi scheme that prosecutors say left investors with about $80 million in losses.Nevin Shapiro admitted in a Newark federal courtroom Wednesday to using Florida-based Capitol Inv...
New York Commercial Litigation Law Firm - Woods Lonergan PLLC
Founded in 1993 by Managing Partner James F. Woods, Woods Lonergan PLLC has built a strong reputation as a resourceful and industrious firm that provides clients with clear, concise, and straightforward answers to their most challenging legal issues. Partner Lawrence R. Lonergan, who joined the firm in 2008, has been a friend and colleague to Mr. Woods for over 40 years and shares the same business philosophy. Woods Lonergan PLLC’s collective experience and expertise enables the firm to expeditiously and effectively analyze the increasing challenges clients face in an evolving business and legal world, in many instances, avoiding unnecessary time and expense to our clients. Our mission is simple: provide cutting-edge expertise and sound advice in select areas of the law for corporate and business clients. We thrive on providing each client with personalized attention, forceful representation, and a collaborative team effort that embraces collective knowledge.