SHREVEPORT, LA—United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today that a Bossier City woman pleaded guilty to filing false tax returns.

Susan Santoro, 40, of Bossier City, La., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote to one count of making or subscribing a false tax return. According to evidence presented at the guilty plea, Santoro, who was the general manager of Top Dollar Pawn in Bossier City from 2009 to 2011, embezzled more than $300,000 from the company. She embezzled the money by falsifying records, which were under her sole authority to review and reconcile. A review of her personal bank accounts revealed numerous large, unexplained cash deposits that far exceeded her income from Top Dollar Pawn. The IRS considers the money, which Santoro did not report on her tax returns, as income. This resulted in Santoro owing additional taxes in excess of $88,000.

Santoro faces up to three years in prison, three years’ supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and restitution. A sentencing date of May 11, 2015 was set.

The FBI and IRS conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brandon B. Brown and Cytheria D. Jernigan are prosecuting the case.