Mesa Resident Admits to Theft of Almost $650,000 from Her Former Employer

PHOENIX—Yolanda Enos, 46, of Mesa, Ariz., pleaded guilty this week to Theft in Excess of $1,000 on an Indian Reservation, before U.S. District Judge Neil V. Wake. Enos admitted to stealing almost $650, 000 while working as a bookkeeper. Sentencing is set before Judge Wake on Monday, November 2, 2009, at 3:00 p.m.

In the course of her guilty plea on August 10th, Enos admitted that between January 3, 2002 and January 31, 2006, she stole approximately $649,675 while working as the Office Manager for Noline and Smith L.L.C., doing business as JR’s Convenience Store, in Scottsdale, Ariz. Enos admitted she accomplished the thefts while working as the trusted bookkeeper of her employer.

Her bookkeeping duties included the preparation of bank deposits that were to include the money collected in two cash registers that were cashed-out by two cashiers twice a day. Enos took random amounts of money from the cashiers’ envelopes during many days she worked in amounts ranging from approximately $50 to $4,400. Enos regularly took larger amounts on weekends when her employer took in more money.

During the time of the thefts, the convenience store’s records indicated no significant losses or discrepancies on days Enos did not work. The thefts were inadvertently discovered by the victim employer in January 2006, after one of the bank deposits Enos had prepared was found to be $100 short. Until that day, Enos’ employers had never audited her work. Enos also stated that she could not recall the exact amount she had taken because she had not kept any records concerning her thefts.

A conviction for Theft in Excess of $1,000 on an Indian Reservation carries a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison, a $250,000 fine or both. In determining an actual sentence, Judge Wake will consult the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide appropriate sentencing ranges. Judge Wake, however, is not bound by those guidelines in determining a sentence.

The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Salt River Pima - Maricopa Tribal Police Department. The prosecution is being handled by Frederick A. Battista, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

CASE NUMBER: CR-09-211-PHX-NVW

RELEASE NUMBER: 2009-256(Enos)