Phyllis Stevens, who embezzled more than $6 million from Aviva USA, was sentenced on Friday to six years in prison. Her wife, Marla Stevens, who claimed to have “no conscious knowledge of the crime,” received a sentence of just more than three years.
The sentences were handed down by U.S. District Judge Ronald Longstaff after Phyllis admitted guilt but blamed her actions on mental disorders caused by childhood abuse. Marla admitted only to spending large sums of money, including over $400,000 in room service at the Bellagio hotel in Las Vegas.
Longstaff said the sentences were based on the amount of money stolen and how it was spent. "When you steal $6 million, you are going to jail, and you are going to go for a long time," he said.
U.S. Attorney Nicholas Klinefeldt agreed. "These sentences show that so-called 'white collar' offenses are serious crimes, and that committing these crimes can bring severe consequences," he said. "Phyllis and Marla Stevens lived a lavish lifestyle on stolen money, and now they are going to pay the price."
Phyllis Stevens blamed her actions on a dissociative identity disorder, and said an alter ego known as Peter was the one who’d taken the money.
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