ORLANDO — A 57-year-old Clermont woman who oversaw the accounting department of a Seminole County business has been charged with embezzling more than $3.9 million from her employer over nearly 13 years, funneling the money into a personal PayPal account and spending it on clothing, travel, electronics and entertainment, federal prosecutors said.
Colleen Kieran faces six counts of wire fraud, each carrying a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison, according to the indictment announced by U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe. The government is also seeking forfeiture of the full $3.9 million as proceeds of the alleged criminal conduct.
The indictment alleges Kieran used her position running the company’s accounting operations to siphon funds directly into her own PayPal account. To conceal the theft, she obtained loans in the company’s name and provided false financial information to both her employers and the company’s tax preparer, prosecutors said.
The scheme stretched across nearly 13 years — a duration that underlines the access and trust Kieran allegedly exploited. The stolen funds went to personal expenses including dining, consumer electronics, entertainment media and travel, according to the charging document.
The FBI, the Longwood Police Department and the Seminole Financial Crimes Task Force investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Richard Varadan is prosecuting the matter, with Assistant United States Attorney Nicole Andrejko handling the forfeiture action.
An indictment is a formal charge and does not constitute proof of guilt; Kieran is presumed innocent unless convicted. Court records did not immediately indicate a date for her initial appearance in federal court in Orlando.