Texas Woman Sentenced to Over Five Years in Prison for $2.8 Million Theft Scheme
A Texas woman, Kristin Cara Kunstler, 43, of Amarillo, has been sentenced to five years and one month in federal prison for a scheme involving the theft of over $2.7 million in government funds and aggravated identity theft. The sentencing took place on Friday, February 27, 2026, by U.S. District Judge Kyle C. Dudek.
Details of the Scheme
According to the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida, Kunstler deposited a U.S. Treasury check, valued at $2,797,083 and belonging to a victim, into a bank account she fraudulently opened in the victim’s name at a Naples, Florida bank branch on January 2, 2025. WGCU and the Department of Justice reported that Kunstler used the victim’s personal information – including their name, date of birth, and driver’s license number – without consent to establish the account and was the sole authorized signer.
By February 19, 2025, Kunstler had withdrawn at least $1.5 million from the account for her own use and the benefit of another individual. MyFloridaNews.com detailed these withdrawals.
Guilty Plea and Forfeiture
Kunstler pleaded guilty to the charges on October 23, 2025. As part of her sentence, the court ordered her to forfeit the entire $2,797,083 stolen from the government.
Investigation and Prosecution
The case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration. Assistant United States Attorney Yolande G. Viacava prosecuted the case, with assistance from Assistant United States Attorney James A. Muench, who handled the forfeiture proceedings.
Previous Fraudulent Activity
Investigations have revealed that Kunstler has a history of fraudulent activity. In May 2024, she was accused of stealing $438,000 from a Mountain America Credit Union branch in Logan, Utah, using a fake ID to obtain a cashier’s check. KSL.com reported that this incident occurred shortly before similar crimes were committed by Kunstler in Texas.