Texas Woman Pleads Guilty to Embezzling $2.6 Million From Italian Shipping Co.'s US Affiliate

Vika Latai Moa, former operations manager for global logistics and freight forwarding company Savino Del Bene USA, pleaded guilty to embezzling over $2.6 million from the company, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Texas announced May 31. Moa, of Euless, Texas, worked at the Dallas office of Savino USA from 2016 to 2019. The Florence, Italy, company's U.S. subsidiary is headquartered in New Jersey.

The firm provides transportation services in the U.S. by subcontracting local deliveries to third-party trucking companies. While working at the company, Moa was responsible for choosing and paying these subcontractors, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. At Savino USA, Moa lied to company employees that invoices were owed for trucking services, causing Savino USA to pay $2.6 million to a bank account that Moa could access, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. In fact, the invoices she created were for firms that did not exist and did not provide any services to Savino. The defendant faces up to 20 years in prison. As part of the plea agreement, she agreed to pay over $2.6 million in restitution.