Oklahoma Woman Sentenced In $1.3M Embezzlement

March 30--For 17 years, bookkeeper Vanessa L. Pollard repeatedly embezzled funds from her employer to pay for lavish trips, luxury vehicles and a comfortable home in Mustang.

By the time Pollard was caught in 2016, she had stolen more than $1.3 million from Wesco Insurance Agency in Yukon. Hired in September 1998, Pollard started stealing from the family-owned business less than a year later.

On Thursday, the admitted embezzler apologized to the agency's co-owners and their families during her sentencing in Oklahoma City federal court.

"I am truly sorry for taking advantage of you. I never meant to hurt you," Pollard said, turning to look at the victims in the courtroom. "It became all-consuming. ... I will pay for this mistake for the rest of my life."

Last year, Pollard pleaded guilty to wire fraud and a federal income tax offense. U.S. District Judge Vicki Miles-LaGrange chose to sentence Pollard to 37 months in federal prison. The judge also ordered Pollard, 58, to pay more than $1.3 million in restitution, mostly to the agency.

During the sentencing, one co-owner called Pollard a "serial criminal."

"She stole simply to satisfy her greed," Gary Shelton told the judge. "She did it consistently for 17 years."

Shelton said Pollard stole from the business 813 separate times. Pollard claimed her wealth was from a family inheritance, he told the judge.

"The pain and injury of her actions have gone far beyond financial loss," Shelton said.

Pollard's crimes negatively impacted the agency and caused their families great personal turmoil, he said.

From April 1999 to August 2016, Pollard defrauded the agency out of at least $1,344,915, according to prosecutors.

She used her personal credit cards to pay for living expenses, elaborate vacations and personal items. She then would make her monthly credit card payments with the agency's funds, according to prosecutors.

She either wrote unauthorized checks or made wire transfers from the business's checking account. She also took steps to conceal the unauthorized payments, according to prosecutors.

As part of a plea agreement, Pollard agreed to forfeit property purchased with the embezzled funds, including her house, two trucks, a sports car, three motorcycles, a luxury sport boat and two personal watercraft.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Stoneman told the judge Pollard spent years making happy memories at the victims' expense. The prosecutor noted Pollard took trips to Costa Rica and Hawaii using the stolen money. The prosecutor also said Pollard has shown a lack of remorse.

Defense attorney William Campbell referred to Pollard's stealing as an addiction.

"She does have remorse. She does have regret," the defense attorney told the judge.

The defense attorney claimed Pollard didn't know how to get out of her situation.

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