Former Sanchez aide pleads guilty to theft; faces up to 6 months in prison when sentenced

According to The Associated Press, a former executive assistant to U.S. Rep. Loretta Sanchez, (D-Calif.), has pleaded guilty to stealing from office funds.

Admission

Caroline Valdez, a native of Nogales, Ariz., admitted in federal court Monday that she used Sanchez's House of Representative credit card to buy airline tickets for herself and a family member and have pizza and groceries delivered.

The 27-year-old Arlington resident also admitted that she forged Sanchez's signature to get $6,000 in bonus salary and inflated the cost of taxicab fare she paid to get greater reimbursement.

Valdez said that her theft totaled more than $5,000 during the two years she worked for the Democratic congresswoman.

Consequence?

She faces up to six months in prison when she is sentenced on Sept. 25. Sanchez's office declined to comment.