Greenbelt, Maryland - Kadiatu Sahid Kamara, age 50, of Gaithersburg, Maryland pleaded guilty today to mail fraud and aggravated identity theft, arising from a two year scheme in which she wrote herself approximately 118 checks from her employers’ bank account.
The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein; Special Agent in Charge Kathy A. Michalko of the United States Secret Service - Washington Field Office; and Chief J. Thomas Manger of the Montgomery County Police Department.
According to her plea agreement, Kamara was a nanny caring for the children of a married couple living in Montgomery County. Kamara had access to checks linked to the victims’ money market account, though she had never been authorized to write checks from this account. From May 2011 to May 2013, Kamara wrote herself approximately 118 checks from the victims’ money market account, totaling approximately $431,542. She forged the signature of one of the victims on each check, and deposited the checks into her own bank account. Kamara used some of the money to buy a house in Africa, to send money transfers, and to play games at a casino in Charles Town, West Virginia.
Kamara faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for mail fraud and a mandatory minimum of two years in prison consecutive to any other sentence imposed. Kamara has agreed to forfeit and pay restitution of $431,542. U.S. District Judge George J. Hazel scheduled sentencing for Oct. 14, 2014.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the U.S. Secret Service and Montgomery County Police Department for their work in the investigation and thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas P. Windom, who is prosecuting the case.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
