Who is Bobbie Jean Margiotta? South MS woman stole nearly $1 million from doctor
A former bookkeeper for a Hancock County physician is heading to federal prison after pleading guilty to wire fraud for stealing nearly $1 million over seven years. U.S. District Judge Louis Guirola sentenced her and ordered her to pay back the money.
FULL STORY: Bookkeeper sentenced to prison in nearly $1 million theft from South MS doctor
Here are key takeaways:
- Bobbie Jean Margiotta, 65, of Diamondhead, was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison and ordered to pay $928,988 in restitution to the physician and his associated companies.
- Court records say Margiotta began stealing shortly after she was hired in May 2015 and continued through 2022, writing checks to herself under her maiden name, to her husband’s credit card business and to a Mississippi company she created called B.J. Simmons LLC.
- She covered up the theft by altering the companies’ bank statements and deposited the stolen money into accounts in Mississippi and Louisiana, with some deposits made through online banking — leading to the federal wire fraud charge.
- Despite the nearly $1 million theft, Margiotta qualified for a court-appointed attorney, telling the court at her initial appearance that she had about $45 in savings and $25 in checking after paying her bills.
- Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Buckner prosecuted the case in federal court in Gulfport, and the FBI investigated. Wire fraud carries a maximum sentence of up to 20 years.
The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The full story in the link at top was reported, written and edited entirely by journalists.
Margaret Baker
Sun Herald