SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS — A former office manager of Valbridge Property Advisors in San Antonio was sentenced to 51 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to stealing approximately $1.8 million from her employer to fund a gambling addiction.
The defendant, identified by the initials J.W., worked for the company for nearly a decade, from 2012 through 2021, overseeing administration and accounting duties. As part of her role, J.W. was in charge of payroll, tax filings, and submitting documents to the Social Security Administration and IRS. However, her gambling addiction led her to exploit her position, stealing over $1.8 million over the course of her employment.
At her sentencing on Monday, U.S. District Judge Fred Biery asked J.W. about the state of her addiction. She responded, “Very, very bad.” The court heard that J.W. started stealing early in her tenure, with $24,000 taken in her first year. Over the following years, the theft escalated, reaching $280,000 in one year and $300,000 in another.
Despite her defense arguing that much of the stolen money was gambled away in Las Vegas and New Orleans, J.W. admitted that she also used the funds for personal expenditures, including purchasing expensive purses.
The court convicted J.W. on two counts of mail fraud while dismissing six additional charges. As part of her sentence, J.W. was ordered to pay restitution to Valbridge Property Advisors for the full amount stolen. Judge Biery also sentenced her to three years of supervised release following her prison term.
J.W. will not be incarcerated immediately. She has been granted time to remain free until February 10, when she must report to federal prison. Additionally, she was ordered to surrender the keys to her home and her $15,000 purse collection as part of the restitution.
This case highlights the severity of financial crimes within trusted positions and the significant consequences for those who exploit their roles for personal gain.
