A Lehigh Acres woman who faked her own death to avoid arrest after stealing more than $4 million from her employer was sentenced Monday to 10 years in federal prison for wire fraud and money laundering.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Madelyn Hernandez, 49, defrauded a textile supply company by submitting fake invoices from nonexistent or defunct businesses and directing payments to accounts she controlled. The scheme ran from 2018 to 2024 and totaled $4,199,498.42.
The fraud unraveled in June after the company noticed discrepancies in its financial and inventory records. After the company began investigating, the woman tried to mislead her employer by sending a message from a fake family member claiming she had died due to illness and surgical complications.
Authorities were contacted, and a search warrant was executed at her home in October. During the search, FBI and IRS agents say she admitted to submitting the false invoices and using the stolen money for personal expenses and gambling. She also admitted to fabricating the message about her death.
A judge also ordered her to forfeit the entire amount she stole as part of her sentencing.
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