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Ex-Office Manager Sentenced For Stealing From B-N Landscaping Business

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WGLT

A 55-year-old woman was sentenced Tuesday to more than three years in federal prison for stealing over $1 million from the Bloomington landscaping business where she worked.

Tina Cozart, formerly of Carlock and now living in California, pleaded guilty in June to one count of wire fraud and filing a false income tax return. Cozart was office manager at F&W Lawn Care and Landscaping.

Prosecutors say Cozart used F&W’s credit cards and bank accounts to make unauthorized purchases for herself, her family, and others. In at least 13 months, Cozart charged more to F&W’s credit cards than she earned for the year, the U.S. attorney’s office said in a statement Wednesday. Some of the money was spent on trips to Cancun, Las Vegas, Florida, and Phoenix, or to buy tickets to sporting events.

Cozart was sentenced to 42 months in prison. She must report to prison Feb. 20.

Cozart was also ordered to pay $1.1 million in restitution to F&W, plus $346,299 to the IRS, and $25,000 to an insurance company, prosecutors said.

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Ryan Denham is the digital content director for WGLT.
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