FRESNO -  Leslie Michelle Hays, 49, of Fresno pleaded guilty today to one count of wire fraud for embezzling funds from her employer, Borges USA, U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced. According to the plea agreement, Hays was the director of human resources from 2005 through 2014 at Borges USA, a food distribution company based in Spain with regional headquarters in Fresno.

Hays embezzled funds from Borges USA by misreporting her salary, expenses, and vacation time. Based on the false payroll information, the company’s payroll processor made wire transmissions via direct deposit into Hays’ bank account. In total, Hays stole more than $800,000 in inflated salary payments and $400,000 in false expenses reimbursements and vacation pay.

In total, Hays stole at least $1,535,420 in inflated salary payments and false expenses reimbursements from Borges USA.

This case is the product of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Fresno Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Grant B. Rabenn is prosecuting the case.

Hays is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd on May 7, 2018. She faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.