Florida family stole $20million from real-estate company with help of their marketing director mom - and spent it on cars, houses and lavish vacations
- Four members of an Orlando, Florida family and four of their friends have been arrested for stealing $20million from Simon Property Group
- Lynette Lauria used her job as a marketing director at the company to approve payments to fake companies, police say
- That money then went in to the bank accounts of the eight suspects who spent in on cars, houses, parties and travel
- They began stealing the money in 2002 and are only charged with taking $4million due to the statue of limitations expiring on some of their crimes
- All eight of the suspects are facing up to 30 years in prison if convicted of racketeering, conspiracy to commit racketeering and grand theft
A Florida family and their friends have been arrested after stealing millions from a real-estate company over the course of 13 years.
Lynette Lauria of Clermont, Florida, allegedly used her position as the marketing director of Simon Property Group to approve payments to fake companies - siphoning off up to $20million that ultimately went into bank accounts belonging to her husband, daughters and others.
The money was then spent on frequent trips, houses, cars and lavish vacations.
Caught: Lynette Lauria (left, husband Robert right) used her job as a marketing director at Simon Property Group to approve payments to fake companies
Large ring: That money then went in to the bank accounts of the eight suspects (Rachel Lauria left, Sarah Lagi right) who spent in on cars, houses, party and travel
The Orlando Sentinel reports that Lauria, 62; her husband, Robert Lauria, 63; and their daughters Rachael Lauria, 39, and Sarah Lagi, 34, all of Clermont; Timothy Herman, 49, Susan Ortega, 55, and Ryan Deming, 39, all of Orlando; and Dale Takio, 38, of Clermont, all had accounts the received stolen money from the company.
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They were all arrested Tuesday, with the exception of Rachael Lauria, and charged with the theft of $4million.
The individuals could not be charged for stealing the full $20million because the statute of limitations ran out on their earlier thefts.
Daily deposits and withdrawals were at times in excess of $11,000, and Lauria received a cut of every single one according to authorities.
She was able to authorize these payments due to her role at the company in both Florida and Puerto Rico.
'Basically, I think it boils down to greed,' said FDLE Agent Daniel J. Warren.
Long time: They began stealing the money in 2002 (Susan Ortega left, Dale Tokio right) and are only charged with taking $4million due to the statue of limitations expiring on some of their crimes
Behind bars: All eight of the suspects (Ryan Deming left, Timothy Herman right) are facing up to 30 years in prison if convicted of racketeering, conspiracy to commit racketeering and grand theft
Famous friend: Ortega runs a company with Jackie Siegel (above) what was featured in the popular documentary Queen of Versailles
Making matters worse, almost all the money is gone, having been spent on trips to Las Vegas and Europe, cruises and giant parties, authorities say.
The individuals are all well known on the Orlando social scene according to authorities, and one, Ortega, is the editor of TravelHost Magazine Orlando.
Ortega is also president of J&S Multi Media, a company she runs alongside Jackie Siegel who was the focus of the popular documentary Queen of Versailles which detailed the building of her and her husband's $100million, 90,000 square-foot home.
All eight of the suspects are facing up to 30 years in prison if convicted of racketeering, conspiracy to commit racketeering and grand theft.
Lauria is also facing an additional charge of money laundering. Bail has been set at $301,000 for everyone save Lauria, whose bail is $302,000.
Simon Property Group, which owns more than 200 malls and outlets worldwide that generate $60billion a year in sales, has yet to comment.
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