Fairhope resident Kelly Ann Kann, who federal authorities say has a track record of embezzlement stretching from Texas to Florida has been sentenced to over five years in federal prison for stealing $286,000 from a Mobile real estate firm.

“Greedy, selfish criminals like Ms. Kann can’t hide when they abuse the trust of their innocent victims,” said U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello. “Together with our law enforcement partners, we will bring to justice crooks who take advantage of their employers to enrich themselves.”

Kann, 57, was employed as an office administrator and bookkeeper for The Weavil Company when, in July 2018, she obtained Capital One credit cards under the name of the spouse of the company owner, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Mobile.

Recorded phone calls to Capital One’s customer service line reveal Kann told customer service agents she was the owner’s spouse and provided personal identity information.

Over a nearly three-year period, Kann used the Capital One cards to make hundreds of purchases, including clothing, electronics, food, furniture, streaming services, utility payments and vacations for herself and a friend.

Kann used her access as office manager and bookkeeper to transfer money from The Weavil Company’s bank accounts to pay the Capital One bills — a total of $184,239 in loss to The Weavil Company, with additional losses of $14,500 to Truist Bank; $10,014 to Capital One; and $77,501 to Hancock Whitney Bank.

In May 2021, the Weavil Company owner confronted Kann over the theft. Kann, in a handwritten note, admitted to stealing $20,000 only, with a promise to repay the funds.

Kann gave the owner doctored bank statements in an attempt to cover her tracks and ultimately she stopped coming to work and never repaid any of the stolen money.

The U.S. Secret Service and Mobile Police Department would investigate the case, leading to Kann’s arrest.

Kann ultimately pleaded guilty in December 2019 in U.S. District Court to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft as part of a plea deal with prosecutors, who agreed to request a more lenient sentence in exchange for her plea.

Kann had faced a maximum sentence of 20 years.

During Kann’s sentencing hearing, federal prosecutors presented evidence Kann had previously embezzled more than $50,000 from multiple employers in the San Antonio, Texas, area.

Additional evidence was presented showing that, after entering her guilty plea in 2019 and while free on bond awaiting sentencing, Kann stole money from an automotive repair shop where she was employed in Pensacola.

As part of her sentencing, Kann will also be required to serve three years of post-release supervision, during which she will receive mental health evaluation/treatment and will be subject to credit limitations.

Kann was not fined, but was ordered to repay the $286,307.763 lost among the four businesses.

“By virtue of her position, and access to sensitive information, Ms. Kann violated the very trust that had been bestowed upon her by her employer,” said Patrick Davis, Special Agent in Charge for the Secret Service. “The Secret Service will always seek prosecution of those who exploit their position of trust for their own enrichment.”