AMARILLO, TX—Becky Renee Kite, 37, of Amarillo, Texas, appeared in federal court this morning before U.S. District Judge Mary Lou Robinson and pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement from a federally-funded program, announced John Parker, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas.

Kite, who remains on bond, faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. A sentencing date was not set.

According to documents filed in the case, from November 2013 until approximately February 2015, Kite embezzled approximately $71,011.13 from her employer, Gilvin-Terrill, Ltd., an organization that received federal assistance from the U.S. Department of Transportation, through the Texas Department of Transportation. Kite was an agent of Gilvin-Terrill in that she was employed as a contract administrator and accounts payable clerk for the road construction company.

Kite admitted using the company Chase credit cards for personal expenses without permission and changing account preferences so that she could take out cash advances from one card. Kite further admitted changing the account preferences to where the statements would be mailed to her, instead of the office. She also admitted making payments to Chase electronically from Gilvin-Terrill’s operating account. An analysis of credit card statements shows that Kite conducted a total of 759 unauthorized transactions totaling $71,011.13.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Frausto is prosecuting.