U.S. Attorney Lesley A. Woods, Attorney General | Justice.Gov
U.S. Attorney Lesley A. Woods, Attorney General | Justice.Gov
Joya M. Kinney, a 45-year-old resident of Bellevue, Nebraska, was sentenced to nine months in federal prison for embezzlement from an organization that received federal benefits. The sentencing took place on September 24, 2025, in Omaha before Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr.
United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods stated that Kinney will serve her sentence without the possibility of parole under the federal system. Following her release from prison, she will be subject to three years of supervised release and must pay $495,652.13 in restitution.
Kinney worked as a bookkeeper at a private school in Nebraska from 2014 until May 2023. During this period, the school received a Paycheck Protection Program loan of approximately $302,500 through the CARES Act. Kinney's duties included managing funds and making entries into the school's accounting records.
In May 2023, an external audit uncovered discrepancies in the school's financial records. When questioned by staff members, Kinney admitted to making four unauthorized cash withdrawals of $10,000 each identified by the auditor. She was subsequently terminated from her position.
An investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bellevue Police Department revealed further losses to the school between March 2016 and May 2023. Evidence indicated that Kinney embezzled about $452,176 through various means including cash withdrawals, using school funds for personal credit card payments, unauthorized purchases charged to the school account, and receiving checks without authorization.
"This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bellevue Police Department," according to information released by authorities.
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