A Miami woman is facing numerous criminal charges after allegedly orchestrating a plot to embezzle more than $600,000 from her employer while working as an executive assistant.
Yesenia Barbara Estrada, 44, was arrested on Thursday and charged with grand theft over $100,000, organized plot to defraud, uttering a forged instrument, fraudulent credit card use, and falsifying company records, according to the arrest report.
According to police, Estrada utilized her access to the company’s payroll and accounting systems to issue illicit checks and payments to herself and her son between January 2022 and July 2023.
According to the report, investigators found at least $418,000 in unlawful payroll transfers, including a $5,500 payment to her son, who worked for the company.
Estrada is also accused of charging over $61,000 in personal expenses to the company’s credit card and changing accounting software records to conceal an additional $115,000 in improper payments.
One phony check for $17,105 was issued to a contractor who told police he never took checks in his name – a transaction that Estrada reportedly authorized without approval.
The total loss for the corporation is anticipated to be $611,836.27.