Former Plantation Bookkeeper Sentenced to Federal Prison for $9.8 Million Embezzlement Scheme

MIAMI - A former bookkeeper from Plantation has been sentenced to 51 months in federal prison for orchestrating a multi-year embezzlement scheme that stole $9.8 million from her employer.

On September 15, Chief U.S. District Judge Cecilia M. Altonaga imposed the sentence on Hava Yfrah Austin, 58. The Court also ordered forfeiture and restitution. Austin previously pleaded guilty to wire fraud and filing a false income tax return, after failing to report the stolen funds on her return.

According to court records, Austin owned and operated Accounting Solutions Today, P.A., a bookkeeping and tax services business in Broward County. Austin was also the long-time bookkeeper for the victim company, where she had signature authority over its bank accounts.

From 2018 through April 2024, Austin embezzled approximately $9.8 million. Austin executed unauthorized wire transfers from the victim company's accounts to her own business and used much of the stolen money to gamble at local casinos and through online gaming platforms.

To conceal her theft, Austin falsified accounting entries in the victim company's ledgers, often creating fraudulent entries under fake but similar-sounding vendor names.

"This defendant betrayed the trust placed in her, stole nearly $10 million, and gambled it away," said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. "Our Office will hold accountable those who abuse positions of trust and conceal their crimes, and we will ensure victims see justice and restitution."

"The IRS-CI enforces the nation's tax laws with particular emphasis on cases where individuals abuse positions of trust and steal what belongs to others through fraudulent schemes designed to conceal their misconduct," said Special Agent in Charge Emmanuel Gomez of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Miami Field Office. "In this case, the defendant booked a one-way ticket overseas- but thanks to our complex financial investigation, the only one-way trip she's taking is straight to prison."

U.S. Attorney Reding Quiñones and Special Agent in Charge Gomez made the announcement.

IRS-CI investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jon Juenger prosecuted the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Grosnoff is handling asset forfeiture.

You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida at https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdfl.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at https://www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at https://http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 25-cr-20239.

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