Henderson Woman Sentenced to Over Five Years in Prison for Embezzling Over $26 Million From Employer

LAS VEGAS - A Henderson, Nevada, woman was sentenced yesterday to five years and 10 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release for embezzling over $26 million from her employer. She was also ordered to pay back the money she stole. The government requested a sentence of 57 months' imprisonment.

"This sentencing sends a clear message that financial fraud and the abuse of professional trust will carry severe consequences," said First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. "Embezzlement harms not only the business owners but also the employees, clients, and community members who rely on the organization's financial stability. We remain committed to holding individuals fully accountable for exploiting their employers for personal gain."

"Financial crimes of this scale inflict deep and lasting harm on victims and their families," said Acting Special Agent in Charge for the IRS Criminal Investigation Phoenix Field Office Scott Brown. "Marabella's $26 million fraud represented not only a staggering financial loss but also an extensive breach of trust. When an individual exploits their position to steal such a significant amount for personal gain, the fallout reverberates throughout the entire business, impacting everyone who depends on it for their livelihood. This announcement is a clear illustration of IRS Criminal Investigation's commitment to protecting taxpayers from financial fraud and maintaining integrity within our financial system."

According to court documents, from January 1, 2018, to about February 28, 2025, Cynthia Marie Marabella and her boyfriend co-defendant William Keolanui Costa devised a scheme to defraud Marabella's employer, a Las Vegas construction company. 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 live in lavish mansions, to drive high-end cars, and to pay private school tuition. Marabella purchased high-end merchandise using the stolen funds and sold those items through an online consignment company. 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.

This case was investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation and the Henderson Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Kimberly Frayn prosecuted the case.

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