Woman pleads to wire fraud

Ex-bookkeeper stole $184,778 from spa employer

LAFAYETTE — A former bookkeeper accused of stealing more than $184,000 from Cocolare Spa entered a guilty plea in federal court Friday.

Angie C. Normand pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge C. Michael Hill, who will now forward Normand’s plea and his recommendation to U.S. District Judge Elizabeth Foote.

Normand’s guilty plea will not be formally entered unless Foote decides to accept it, Hill said.

The former accountant/bookkeeper was charged in a bill of information filed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office last month.

Normand told the court that she is charged “with wire fraud and taking money from my employer as well as cashing checks that were made out to cash on my behalf.”

Cocolare Spa hired Normand in December 2007.

Normand admitted to falsely increasing her salary by manipulating her payroll information and preparing false records, entries and deposit slips in order to conceal the scheme, according to documents filed in connection with her guilty plea.

She is specifically charged with a wire transfer of $5,372 to her Mid South bank account in August 2010, according to her plea form.

In all, Normand admitted to stealing $184,778 over a three-year period that began in March 2008 and ended in April 2011.

She faces a possible maximum prison sentence of 20 years and a $250,000 fine.

Normand agreed to make full restitution and entered into a consent degree entitling the government to a forfeiture of substitute property if the full amount cannot be located.

Attorney Michael Skinner represented Normand.

Skinner said Normand has already voluntarily paid $8,000 in restitution.

“Ms. Normand is sincerely sorry for her actions, has accepted responsibility for them, and will continue to try to make restitution in this matter,” Skinner wrote in an e-mail Friday.

Hill released Normand on a $50,000 unsecured bond, meaning she was able to sign the bond herself.

Hill set Normand’s sentencing date for Nov. 2.