Spring resident admits to embezzling over $900,000 from local HVAC company

HOUSTON - A 51-year-old woman has pleaded guilty in a wire fraud embezzlement scheme, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

For approximately 26 years, Sonia Yvonne Rodriguez worked as an office manager for a local heating, ventilating and air-conditioning company.

As part of her plea, Rodriguez admitted to embezzling $938,387.26 in business funds allocated for federal tax payments from 2015 to 2020. Rodriguez would key payments into the company's accounting software for tax payments and subsequently clear out the payments from the check register upon making the payments into her personal bank account.

U.S. District Judge Alfred H. Bennett accepted the plea and has set sentencing for Nov. 21. At that time, Rodriguez faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

She was permitted to remain on bond pending that hearing.

The Secret Service conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sherin Daniel and James Hu prosecuted the case.