KC Reporter

A Kansas City woman has admitted guilt in a case of significant financial deception involving her former employer. Jennifer L. Cabral, aged 51, appeared in federal court, where she acknowledged her role in a scheme that saw her divert substantial funds for her use.

Cabral entered her guilty plea before U.S. Magistrate Judge Lajuana Counts, admitting to charges that included bank fraud and money laundering. She conceded that she embezzled approximately $306,034.28, channeling this money from her employer's bank account to support personal expenditures. The method involved manipulating accounting software to facilitate transfers from the company's account to her personal banking accounts at a local financial institution. The misappropriated funds were used, among other things, for vehicle payments on her car, which will now be forfeited as part of the plea agreement.

Cabral's actions have exposed her to significant legal penalties. The bank fraud charge carries a potential sentence of up to 30 years in prison, while the money laundering charge could lead to an additional 20 years. These sentences, established by federal statute, highlight the severity of the charges and will inform, though not determine, the final sentencing. The court will set an official sentence based on guidelines and further statutory considerations following a detailed investigation by the United States Probation Office.

The prosecution of this case is led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rudolph R. Rhodes IV. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, alongside the Grandview, Mo., Police Department, conducted the investigation that brought Cabral's scheme to light.