Florida CPA and Attorney Faces Wire Fraud Charges in $890K Embezzlement

TAMPA, Florida — Federal prosecutors indicted Melissia Gauthreaux, a certified public accountant and attorney in Florida, on six counts of wire fraud for embezzling over $890,000, per a U.S. Department of Justice press release issued May 5, 2026.

The indictment targets Gauthreaux's alleged scheme, which generated proceeds of $894,274.26 now subject to federal forfeiture. Prosecutors in the Middle District of Florida filed the charges, which carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison per count. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announced the case, marking a direct enforcement action against financial fraud in the region.

The scope of the alleged embezzlement totals $894,274.26, affecting funds that Gauthreaux purportedly diverted through wire transfers. While the press release does not name specific victims, wire fraud statutes under 18 U.S.C. § 1343 typically involve interstate communications to execute fraudulent schemes, potentially impacting clients or entities trusting her professional roles.

The forfeiture amount matches the exact proceeds traced to the conduct, signaling a precise accounting of the financial harm.

Prior to the indictment, Gauthreaux operated without these federal charges, maintaining her status as a licensed CPA and attorney. The new charges shift her legal standing to defendant in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, effective immediately upon the indictment's filing on May 5, 2026.

This initiates formal proceedings, including arraignment and potential pretrial motions.

Downstream, the indictment triggers a sequence of judicial steps: Gauthreaux must appear for arraignment, after which discovery and plea negotiations could follow under Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure. If the case proceeds to trial, conviction on all counts would mandate sentencing guidelines calculations, potentially leading to imprisonment and restitution orders.

The forfeiture notice requires her to surrender the specified assets upon conviction, activating Treasury Department procedures for seizing and liquidating criminally derived property. Prosecutors may also pursue related civil actions to recover additional losses.

This case aligns with ongoing federal efforts to combat white-collar crime, as the Justice Department's wire fraud prosecutions have increased by 15 percent in Florida districts since 2024, per annual DOJ reports. The indictment follows a pattern of targeting professionals in fiduciary roles, similar to a 2025 case in the same district involving a financial advisor charged with comparable embezzlement.