Jennifer Lynn Thornton, a 45-year-old resident of Hockley, has been sentenced to 41 months in federal prison for her role in a scheme to embezzle more than $200,000 from her employer, a Houston dentist, announced U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
Thornton, who pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud on July 20, 2023, was sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge Kenneth M. Hoyt. In addition to her prison term, Thornton will serve three years of supervised release and was assessed 10 special assessments of $100 each. Restitution will be determined at a later date. In imposing the sentence, Judge Hoyt remarked that Thornton’s actions caused significant harm to the victims, noting, “The harm you caused to the victims was very personal.”
Thornton, a financial coordinator for a dental office in Houston, embezzled funds from the practice over a period of time. The dentist, who had been in business for 38 years, began reviewing his company’s accounts in July 2021 in preparation for retirement. During the review, he discovered Thornton’s fraudulent activities.
Thornton had created a shell company, SGS Healthcare, and diverted payments intended for the dental practice to this fake business. She also manipulated company records, depositing checks made payable to the dental practice into her own accounts. Additionally, Thornton took cash payments from patients and covered up the thefts in the company’s financial books.
The dentist hired a private auditor, who uncovered a total of $243,597 in stolen funds.
Thornton will remain free on bond until she voluntarily surrenders to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility, which will be determined in the near future.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Secret Service and the Harris County Sheriff’s Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Hileman.
