Sonya Hesenius, a former office manager and executive assistant, has been sentenced to federal prison for embezzling over $8.5 million from her employer. U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan expressed, “Hesenius will now be held accountable for her flagrant theft of millions of dollars from her employer to support a lavish lifestyle.” The former office manager was entrusted with financial responsibilities but chose to use company funds for personal gain, as noted by Buchanan.
Keri Farley, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta, commented on Hesenius' breach of trust, stating, “Instead, she chose to abuse it and her personal greed not only hurt the company, but everyone who worked for them.” Farley emphasized the seriousness with which the FBI views wire fraud cases and their commitment to holding offenders accountable.
During her time as an office manager and executive assistant in Alpharetta, Georgia, Hesenius manipulated corporate credit cards and reimbursement processes to fund extravagant personal expenses. The fraudulent charges were disguised within the company's accounting system, as detailed by U.S. Attorney Buchanan.
Hesenius utilized the embezzled funds to finance a luxurious lifestyle, including extravagant purchases like private jet vacations, designer items, and high-end furniture. The former office manager's fraudulent activities led to significant losses for her employer, totaling $8,614,729.37 over the course of the scheme.
As a consequence of her actions, Sonya Hesenius, 60, was sentenced to six years in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Victoria M. Calvert, followed by three years of supervised release. Hesenius was also ordered to pay full restitution to her former employer. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David A. O’Neal and investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The sentencing of Hesenius serves as a reminder of the consequences of financial fraud and the commitment of law enforcement agencies to uphold accountability in such cases.