Nevada Woman Pleads Guilty to Embezzling Over $26 Million From Employer

LAS VEGAS - A Henderson, Nev., woman pleaded guilty today to embezzling over $26 million from her employer and purchasing high-end merchandise using the stolen funds and selling those items through an online consignment company.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Cynthia Marie Marabella was employed as a controller at a Las Vegas-based construction company. As part of her duties, she managed accounts payable, accounts receivable, and received financial statements from various banks and credit card companies.

Marabella admitted that, from January 1, 2018, to about February 28, 2025, she and her boyfriend co-defendant William Keolanui Costa devised a scheme to defraud Marabella's employer. As part of the scheme, they: fraudulently duplicated bonus checks and deposited the checks into bank accounts controlled by Marabella and Costa; opened credit cards in other peoples' names and made unauthorized charges then paid the credit cards' bills with stolen funds; provided false accounting records to the employer; created forged and false bank statements; and sent fictitious invoices from merchant accounts then paid the invoices with stolen funds.

Marabella and Costa used the stolen money to pay off vehicles, living expenses, and credit cards. They also purchased high-end merchandise with the stolen funds, such as expensive purses, shoes, clothing, and jewelry. Marabella sold the merchandise through an online consignment company. Marabella and Costa received more than $245,000 from the sales. As a result of the fraud scheme, Marabella and Costa obtained more than $26 million from the employer.

Marabella pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of monetary transactions in criminally derived property. The total maximum statutory penalty is 30 years in prison. Sentencing has been set for August 4, 2026, before United States District Judge Andrew P. Gordon. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada and Acting Special Agent in Charge Jarom Gregory of IRS Criminal Investigation's Phoenix Field Office made the announcement.

This case was investigated by IRS Criminal Investigations and the Henderson Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Kimberly Frayn is prosecuting the case.

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