United States Attorney A. Brian Albritton
Middle District of Florida
Tampa Orlando Jacksonville Fort Myers Ocala

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 22, 2009
http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/flm/pr

BREVARD WOMAN SENTENCED FOR WIRE FRAUD

Orlando , Florida - U.S. District Judge Mary S. Scriven today sentenced Yolanda Serrano, age 45, to a term of imprisonment of five years and ten months for wire fraud. Serrano pleaded guilty on September 30, 2008 .

According to court documents, in March 2008, Southeast Petro Distributors, Inc. ( Southeast Petro ), which is headquartered in Brevard County , reported that it had been the victim of employee theft, specifically embezzlement. Serrano went to work for Southeast Petro in 1992 and became its comptroller in 1998. Serrano engaged in a scheme to defraud while she was the comptroller, from 1998 until March 2008, by diverting Southeast Petro funds, without authorization, to bank accounts held at SunTrust Bank. Starting in 2000, Serrano used her position to divert approximately $12.7 million using SunTrust's online banking system.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Vincent A. Citro.