F FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                     CONTACT: KATHY ENGLISH   

FEBRUARY 20, 2008                            PHONE: (504) 680-3068          

WWW.USDOJ.GOV/USAO/LAE                              

FAX: (504) 589-4978  

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA -SAMANTHIA MILLER, age 28, of Arabi, Louisiana, pled guilty today before U. S. District Judge Carl J. Barbier to wire fraud, announced U. S. Attorney Jim Letten.

According to the factual basis, MILLER was employed at the law offices of Frank D'Amico as a legal secretary. During her employment, she stole approximately $61,647.05 from a credit card held by Frank D'Amico. MILLER added herself as an authorized user on the credit card account without the permission or knowledge of D'Amico. The defendant then made numerous cash withdrawals and internet purchases and negotiated checks from the account without the authorization of D'Amico. Additionally, as part of the scheme, MILLER wired money from the credit card account to her personal bank account at Hibernia National Bank.

MILLER faces a maximum sentence of ten (30) years imprisonment, a $1,000,000 fine, three (5) years supervised release, and a $100 special assessment. Sentencing is scheduled for May 14, 2008 at 1:30 P.M.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney G. Dall Kammer.