A Henderson, Nevada, woman was sentenced on July 30 to five years and ten months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for embezzling more than $26 million from her employer. She was also ordered to pay restitution equal to the amount stolen. The government had requested a sentence of 57 months’ imprisonment.
“This sentencing sends a clear message that financial fraud and the abuse of professional trust will carry severe consequences,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. “Embezzlement harms not only the business owners but also the employees, clients, and community members who rely on the organization’s financial stability. We remain committed to holding individuals fully accountable for exploiting their employers for personal gain.”
Acting Special Agent in Charge for IRS Criminal Investigation Phoenix Field Office Scott Brown said, “Financial crimes of this scale inflict deep and lasting harm on victims and their families. Marabella’s $26 million fraud represented not only a staggering financial loss but also an extensive breach of trust. When an individual exploits their position to steal such a significant amount for personal gain, the fallout reverberates throughout the entire business, impacting everyone who depends on it for their livelihood. This announcement is a clear illustration of IRS Criminal Investigation’s commitment to protecting taxpayers from financial fraud and maintaining integrity within our financial system.”
According to court documents, between January 1, 2018, and February 28, 2025, Cynthia Marie Marabella and her boyfriend William Keolanui Costa carried out a scheme against Marabella’s employer—a Las Vegas construction company—by duplicating bonus checks; opening credit cards in others’ names; providing false accounting records; creating forged bank statements; and sending fictitious invoices paid with stolen funds. The pair used these funds to live in expensive homes, drive luxury vehicles, pay private school tuition fees, purchase high-end merchandise later sold online—and ultimately obtained more than $26 million.
Marabella pleaded guilty to one count each of wire fraud and monetary transactions involving criminally derived property. The case was investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation along with Henderson Police Department; Assistant United States Attorney Kimberly Frayn prosecuted.
The U.S. Attorney for the District of Nevada enforces federal laws across all seventeen counties in Nevada as part of its role within the U.S. Department of Justice and works collaboratively with federal, state and local agencies to enhance public safety through law enforcement initiatives, according to the official website.