A Dartmouth woman has been sentenced to 20 months in prison for embezzling significant amounts from two employers. Jasmyne Botelho, aged 42, received the sentence from U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper and will also undergo three years of supervised release. Additionally, Botelho must pay restitution and forfeiture totaling $443,122.59.
Botelho pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud in September 2024 after being indicted by a federal grand jury earlier that year in May.
The court found that between September 2017 and April 2020, Botelho misappropriated at least $280,000 from one employer by redirecting payments intended for vendors into her personal bank accounts. She used company funds for personal expenses like credit card bills and an auto loan. To cover up the thefts, she falsified financial records to show that payments had been sent to legitimate vendors.
Further investigation revealed that between May 2022 and December 2023, Botelho inflated her payroll at a second employer by over $160,000. She concealed this activity by manipulating payroll and accounting software to disguise inflated salaries and false reimbursements paid to herself.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley along with Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's Boston Division, announced the sentencing today. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen A. Kearney from the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit.