A federal grand jury has indicted Kami Elois Power, 54, from Gardnerville, Nevada, on charges of wire fraud, bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft. The announcement was made by Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith.
Court documents reveal that between November 2019 and May 2023, Power worked as an office assistant at a family-owned construction company in South Lake Tahoe. During this period, she allegedly embezzled over $1.4 million from the company. It is claimed that more than $700,000 of these fraudulent transfers were disguised as payments to vendors through fake profiles she created using names of real companies and fabricated ones resembling her initials like “KEP Inc. Sale” and “KPI.” Additional fraudulent transfers were reportedly disguised as payroll or reimbursements. Power is also accused of using the company's credit card for unauthorized personal purchases and paying off her personal credit cards with company funds. The stolen money was allegedly used to buy property, luxury cars, ATVs, and a horse.
The case resulted from an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation alongside the South Lake Tahoe Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elliot C. Wong and Whitnee Goins are leading the prosecution.
If found guilty, Power could face up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count of wire fraud; up to 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine for each count of bank fraud; along with a mandatory two-year sentence for aggravated identity theft. Sentencing would be determined by the court after considering statutory factors and Federal Sentencing Guidelines which account for various elements involved in the case.
It is important to note that these charges are allegations at this stage; Power remains presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.