HOUSTON— An executive assistant was named in a 20-count federal indictment alleging she stole $1.3 million from a Houston businessman, according to officials.
Michelle Robyn Freytag, 47, was arrested Wednesday for wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, officials said.
The indictment, returned Feb. 11, 2015, alleges that Freytag, of Missouri City, Texas, was hired in April 2009 to be the executive assistant for a Houston businessman.
As early as August 2009, officials said she had allegedly begun misusing her position and her exposure to her employer’s credit card and banking information to arrange for credit cards to be assigned in her name, but under his accounts in order to make unauthorized charges.
The indictment further alleges Freytag also began using credit cards assigned to her employer, his spouse and his businesses and then arranged for the unauthorized charges to be paid from the man’s bank accounts.
According to authorities, she got illegal cash advances, commercial air travel for friends and family members, household items such as thousands of dollars in furniture and a 75” Samsug television as well as charter air travel on a private jet based out of Houston.
In total, the indictment alleges Freyag stole approximately $1.3 million prior to being terminated in January 2014.
If convicted, Freytag is facing up to 20 years in prison along with a possible 24-month sentence added to her sentence for identity theft.