Tampa, Florida U.S. District Judge William F. Jung has sentenced Desiree Madiedo (45, Brooksville) to serve one year and one day in federal prison for wire fraud. Earlier, on November 8, 2022, Judge Jung sentenced Desiree Madiedos husband, Christopher Madiedo (47, Brooksville), to 30 months in federal prison for his role in the wire fraud scheme. As part of their sentences, the court also ordered the Madiedos to pay full restitution in the amount of $342,155 to the victim company and entered an order of forfeiture in the same amount, representing the proceeds of the couples wire fraud scheme. Desiree Madiedo was found guilty on June 3, 2022. Christopher Madiedo was found guilty on September 8, 2022.
According to court documents, Desiree Madiedo was hired in 2004 by Company 1, a worldwide agribusiness, to work in the companys Tampa office. There, she initially worked as a receptionist and was later assigned to work in the companys accounting and office management department where she handled the Tampa offices accounts receivable and accounts payable. Around 2014, Desiree Madiedos duties and responsibilities were expanded to include administration and reconciliation of Company 1s credit card account. Around the same time, she caused Company 1 to establish an automatic monthly payment to be made from its bank account to cover charges made by Company 1 employees against its credit cards. From then and until around January 2018, the Madiedos utilized Desiree Madiedos company credit card to purchase approximately $342,155 in personal items and services, which were not valid business-related expenditures.
In an effort to conceal the purchases of personal items and services by herself and her husband, Desiree Madiedo continued to collect and reconcile all of the other Company 1 employees expense account reports, enter appropriate business expenditures made by the employees into Company 1s books and records, and ensure that the entire outstanding balance due the credit card companywhich included charges made by the Madiedos against the companys credit card account for personal items and serviceswas paid in full.
This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service and the Tampa Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jay G. Trezevant. Assistant United States Attorney James A. Muench is handling the asset forfeiture.
Source: U.S. Secret Service