Woodlands Woman Charged with Defrauding Employer

HOUSTON – A 52-year-old resident of The Woodlands has been charged with defrauding her former employer of more than $1.5 million, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Abe Martinez.

A criminal information was filed May 24, 2017, charging Kavita Nehendra Duvvuru with one count of wire fraud. She is expected to make her initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephen Smith at 10:00 today.

According to the charges, Duvvuru worked for the president of Vinmar International Ltd., a petrochemical, marketing and distribution firm located in Houston. The criminal information alleges that from 2010 through January 2017, Duvvuru made unauthorized charges of personal expenses and unauthorized cash withdrawals on credit cards which were only to be used for Vinmar business expenses. Duvvuru allegedly altered the credit card statements and provided false information to conceal her fraud from Vinmar.

As a result of her scheme Duvvuru caused Vinmar a loss of more than $1.5 million, according to the charges.

If convicted, she faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

The criminal information also contains a notice of forfeiture.

The FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Braddock is prosecuting the case.

A criminal information is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence.

A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.