11 January 2005 – LAWFUEL – The law news network – Marcos Daniel Jiménez, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida; and Michael S. Clemens, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, announced today that on Friday, January 7, 2005, defendant, Lillie Mae Xavier, was
sentenced by United States District Court Judge Kenneth A. Marra, in Ft.
Lauderdale, Florida, to a term of thirty (30) months’ imprisonment and three (3)
years’ supervised release and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of
$764,259.11 to CIGNA Dental Health Incorporated, her former employer.
On October 7, 2004, Xavier pleaded guilty to charges of embezzling funds from the
health benefit provider’s bank accounts of CIGNA Dental Health, Inc., in violation
of Title 18, United States Code, Section 669, while employed as an
accountant/manager at CIGNA’s office in Plantation, Florida. Xavier admitted to
making over ninety-one (91) computer generated electronic wire transfers of over
$3.2 million dollars from CIGNA’s bank accounts under her control to her own
personal bank accounts during 1998 through November 18, 2003. Xavier also wired
back into these accounts funds in the amount of approximately $2.4 million dollars,
resulting in a loss to CIGNA of $764,259.11.
Mr. Jiménez commended the investigative efforts of the Federal Bureau of
Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney
Jeffrey H. Kay.
