FLORIDA – Nine people are facing charges related to the alleged embezzlement of financial aid funds from a higher education institution, the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida has announced.
United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg has announced the unsealing of an indictment charging the nine individuals with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. According to the announcement, they are Andrea Mitchell, 53, of Tampa; Lester Best, 54, of Tampa; Gloria Gutierrez, 51, of Lakeland; Sylvester Robinson, 57, of Temple Terrace; Neukenya Jokines, 52, of Riverview; Kinya Lillie, 52, of Tampa; Jewel Jordan, 52, of Brandon; Andre Wright, 54, of Hinesville, Georgia; and Rozaundra Lillie, 53, of Tampa,
Mitchell is further charged with aggravated identity theft, the U.S. Attorney’s Office (USAO) said.
If convicted, each faces a maximum penalty of 20 in federal prison. If convicted for aggravated identity theft, Mitchell faces a mandatory minimum of two years in prison in addition to the sentence imposed for conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
The indictment also notifies the individuals that the United States intends to forfeit all assets which are alleged to be traceable to proceeds of the offense, the USAO said.
According to the indictment, Mitchell served as a financial services manager at a higher education institution in the Middle District of Florida. Mitchell and her coconspirators allegedly used her position to embezzle hundreds of thousands of dollars in financial aid.
In order to steal the funds, Mitchell allegedly stole the identities of hundreds of current and formerly enrolled students at the higher education institution, then issued checks to coconspirators using those funds, the USAO said. The coconspirators reportedly cashed the checks at various financial institutions and shared the proceeds.
An indictment is merely a formal charge that a defendant has committed one or more violations of federal criminal law, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
This case was investigated by the Tampa Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the United States Secret Service. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Candace Garcia Rich.
