BY IRIS B. HOLTON
Sentinel City Editor
A former employee of a local finance company has entered a plea agreement in the theft of $2.2 million. Her husband entered a plea agreement last month.
On Monday, Ms. Michelle Guy pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud and one count of mail fraud. If convicted, she could receive up to 30 years in prison. The agreement must be accepted by the court.
According to the indictment, beginning in January 2007 through November 2011, Ms. Guy allegedly admitted that she conspired with others, including her husband, Kevin Guy, 41, to defraud HSBC Mortgage Services, Inc., (HSBC Mortgage Services), HSBC Finance Corporation (HBSC Finance), and HSBC Bank, USA, to obtain money and property fraudulently. As a result of the scheme, approximately $2,216,776.12 in American Express gift cards, AMEX gift cheques, and store gift cards, were fraudulently obtained.
She admitted to using interstate wire and telephone communication devices to order the gift cards and checks, and then had the vendors mail them to her residence and office. She reportedly used Federal Express and DHL Companies. The purpose of the cards was to reward employees.
Ms. Guy worked at the company from February 2001 in various capacities until August 2011.
On September 12, 2011, a federal search warrant was executed at the couple’s Brandon home. “After the first search warrant was executed, Michelle Guy and Kevin Guy enlisted other individuals to aid them in their scheme. The Guys recruited at least two other persons to deposit and cash AMEX gift cheques that had been obtained by fraud,” the indictment stated.
A second search warrant was executed on December 20, 2011. During the search warrant law enforcement seized over 25 Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and Coach purses; over 100 pairs of designer shoes, over 100 pair of True Religion jeans, more than 20 pairs of designer sunglasses, four flat screen televisions, two computers, and an expensive refrigerator.
Kevin Guy entered a guilty plea last month. Judge James D. Whittemore accepted it on Wednesday. Sentencing for Kevin Guy will take place on May 6th at 3 p.m. He is facing up to five years in federal prison. Kevin Guy is an employee of Hillsborough County.
Michelle Guy will make her initial appearance, bond hearing, and change of plea hearing on April 2, at 2 p.m., before Magistrate Judge Thomas B. McCoun, III.
