Employee gets three years in prison for $1.1M scheme

Junipher Sayers, 34, of Cape Coral, was sentenced to three years in federal prison for what authorities called a sophisticated scheme to steal $1.1 million from her former employer, Tigrent Inc.

Sayers, who pleaded guilty to wire fraud, was also ordered to repay $1,132,160 in restitution to Tigrent, a real estate education firm. The funds represent the proceeds she obtained as a result of the offenses, according to a release from the U.S. Attorney's office. Sayers formerly went by Junipher Layne, the release adds.

Sayers, formerly an accounts payable clerk, stole money from the company by submitting and processing fraudulent invoices for payment, authorities alleged. Sayers then directed those payments to several shell companies she created and controlled for the purpose of carrying out her scheme, according to the plea agreement. The fraud took place between Jan. 28, 2013 and June 2015. Authorities say Sayers spent large amounts of the stolen money on consumer goods and other items.