Ex-Congressional Aide Pleads Guilty to Fraud

ABC News’ Jason Ryan Reports:  A former office manager for three
members of Congress pleaded guilty to a fraud charge Friday, for
submitting nearly $200,000 in fraudulent expense vouchers and bilking
taxpayers and funds from the House of Representatives.

As part of her job, Laura Flores, 47, submitted expenses and
receipts for office supplies, periodical and magazine subscriptions,
and access to computer databases.

Court records reviewed in the case note, "On April 22, 2005,
defendant submitted a voucher seeking repayment of $17,395.00 for the
purchase of access to the  Congressional Quarterly database…
Defendant had never ordered the product from the vendor."

"To evidence the ostensible purchase, defendant obtained an invoice
from Congressional Quarterly to make it appear as if she actually
purchased the subscription."

Another example cited in court records includes more than $3,600
worth of toner cartridges for computer printers that never existed.
The court documents do not specify which members of Congress employed
Flores. 

Justice Department lawyers contacted Friday evening declined to comment, and calls to Flores’ attorney have not been returned.

According to the statement of fact filed at the U.S. District Court
in Alexandria, Va., Flores, "While acting as office manager, defendant
applied the applicable House member’s signature to the completed
expense voucher. The signature would indicate that the voucher had been
approved by the specific House member."

The documents say Flores was pulling the funds from the member’s
"Representational Allowances," funds alloted for members to rent office
space in their district, pay for staff salaries. 

According to the court records, "once the allotment is depleted
there are no additional funds for employee salaries or office expenses.
Defendant would utilize her personal credit cards to purchase office
supplies and order periodicals for the different House member offices.
This would cause the U.S. House of Representatives to issue wire
transfers of currency into Flores’ personal bank account as
reimbursement for the bogus claims," the documents noted.

Flores could face a maximum of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.  Her sentencing is set for May 2.