Marion County Woman Sentenced To Prison For $600,000 Payroll Theft From Alternative School

Ocala, Florida - United States District Judge Thomas P. Barber has sentenced Danielle Jane Liles (41, Summerfield) to one year and one day in federal prison for wire fraud. Liles was also ordered to pay $766,553.54 in restitution to the victim alternative school and forfeit $616,793.43, which represents the proceeds of her crimes. Liles entered a guilty plea on December 12, 2023.

According to court records, between January 11, 2016, and April 10, 2023, Liles devised a scheme to defraud Silver River Mentoring and Instruction (SRMI), an alternative school for middle and high school students. During this time, Liles handled the school's payroll and had 137 unauthorized paychecks issued in her name by logging false information into SRMI's accounting software. Liles then received the fraudulent paychecks through wire transfers directly into her bank account. During a financial review with the school's executive staff in April 2023, Liles admitted that she had been "paying [herself] extra money" and had become addicted to stealing the payroll funds. In total, Liles's actions cost the school $766,553.54-a figure representing the fraudulent pay she received ($616,793.43) plus the associated benefits and taxes.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Education - Office of Inspector General. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hannah Nowalk.