Bookkeeper Indicted for Theft from Local Company and Filing False Tax Returns

PENSACOLA, FL—A federal grand jury today charged Kandi Kay Holden, 43, of Cantonment, Florida, in a federal indictment that included 120 counts of wire fraud and five counts of federal tax violations.

The 125-count indictment charges Holden with diverting funds from her place of employment and failing to report this money as income on her federal income tax returns. Specifically, the indictment alleges that from November 2004 until her discharge in January 2011, Holden was employed by Cantwell Steel Erectors Inc., located in Pensacola, Florida, as part of the company’s bookkeeping and accounting department. While so employed, Holden allegedly initiated 120 unauthorized wire transfers totaling $282,000. She then transferred the money from the bank account of Cantwell Steel Erectors into various bank accounts that she controlled. Holden is also charged with filing false tax returns for the years 2006 through 2009 and willfully failing to file her 2010 individual federal income tax return. The indictment charges that during these years, Holden should have reported income of $102,373.46 for 2006; $142,967.99 for 2007; $153,597.73 for 2008; $149,370.00 for 2009; and $121,449.24 for 2010.

If convicted, the defendant faces maximum sentences of 20 years in prison for each count of wire fraud, three years in prison for each count of filing false tax return, and one year in prison for willfully failing to file a tax return.

This indictment was based upon an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and IRS-Criminal Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Randy Hensel.

The charges contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.