U.S. Attorney Vanessa R. Waldref | U.S. Department of Justice
On November 27, 2024, Carol Dacaymat Casilla was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison by United States District Judge Thomas O. Rice. Casilla's sentencing follows her conviction for fraud and embezzlement of over $715,000 from a Spokane medical practice where she worked between 2020 and 2023. In addition to the prison term, Judge Rice ordered three years of supervised release and restitution amounting to $715,255.09.
Court documents reveal that from May 2020 to March 2023, Casilla was employed as an accountant at Spokane Dermatology Clinic (SDC) in Spokane. During her tenure, she exploited her position to issue company checks to herself and deposit them into personal accounts. She also conducted electronic funds transfers using company money for personal credit card payments. Some transfers were made to a fictitious company created by Casilla to disguise them as legitimate business expenses. Through these methods, she executed hundreds of fraudulent transactions totaling more than $715,000.
United States Attorney Vanessa Waldref commented on the case: “Ms. Casilla betrayed her employer’s trust and stole hundreds of thousands of dollars.” Waldref emphasized the responsibility held by accountants and financial professionals like Casilla over company finances: “This sentence should send a message that those who abuse their positions of trust to enrich themselves will be held accountable." She praised the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Spokane Resident Agency for their investigative work: "We will continue working with our law enforcement partners to hold accountable those who commit fraud and financial crimes.”
The investigation was carried out by the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Spokane Resident Agency, with Assistant United States Attorney Dan Fruchter prosecuting the case.
