Today, U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell sentenced Amy D. Shelton, 38, for bank fraud and willfully making and subscribing a false federal income tax return. The judge ordered Shelton to serve 30 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Additionally, she must pay $870,934.67 in restitution to her former employer and $309,167 to the IRS.
“Shelton not only stole from a local business owner, but she also betrayed her employer’s trust,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “This deliberate decision not only affected her employer but also defrauded the government, harming taxpayers.”
Christopher J. Altemus Jr., Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation at the Dallas Field Office stated: “Ms. Shelton’s sentence sends a clear message that tax fraud is not a victimless crime, and the government will hold these criminals accountable for their actions.” He added that Shelton "broke the trust of her former employer by embezzling more than a million dollars and then chose not to include all her income when she filed her taxes."
Court documents reveal that Shelton began working as an account manager in 2015 with responsibilities including payroll handling and financial document updates. From May 2019 through November 2022, she wrote over 150 checks to herself totaling more than $1.1 million. She used the funds for luxury purchases such as recreational vehicles and jewelry while falsifying her tax returns.
Shelton has been allowed to remain on bond until she voluntarily surrenders to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
The case was investigated by IRS-Criminal Investigations and the U.S. Secret Service with Assistant U.S. Attorney Elliot P. Anderson prosecuting.