The former manager of an eye-care center in Williamsburg has been convicted on several federal charges after taking more than $500,000 from her employer.
Sherea Darnell, 34, of Southfield, Michigan, was convicted by a federal jury Tuesday of wire fraud, bank fraud and filing false federal income tax returns, the U.S. Department of Justice said.
Darnell worked as the practice manager of Cullom Eye and Laser Center in Williamsburg from March 2012 to September 2016.
While there, Darnell used three of Dr. Robert Cullom’s credit cards for personal transactions totaling about $514,000. She also used his Wells Fargo Advisors account, which was established to pay for medical equipment, to pay the balances of her own credit cards.
Under the eye-care practice, both Darnell and Cullom were employees of Riverside Healthcare.
Darnell used Cullom’s credit cards to pay for her son’s preschool tuition, which she deducted from her 2016 tax return. She also took more than $90,000 in cash advances and used them to hire a maid service and purchase high-end clothing, airline tickets for herself and her family, and luxury vehicles.
Darnell did not report any of the funds on her tax returns.
After resigning from her manager position at the eye-care practice, Darnell continued to use Cullom’s credit cards for moving and other expenses.
Darnell is scheduled to be sentenced at 11 a.m. Oct. 24 in the U.S. Eastern District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. She faces up to 30 years in prison.
