SPRINGDALE (KFSM) — A Gentry woman was ordered to spend 28 months in federal prison Friday morning (Jan. 8) after pleading guilty last year to defrauding Tyson Inc. of more than half a million dollars.
Brenda Blair, 48, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud on Sept. 4.
She was also ordered to pay $551,343.52 in restitution, according to a press release from U.S. District Court in Fayetteville. Following her release, Blair will spend two additional years under supervised release.
Court records showed that Blair’s scheme lasted more than nine years, starting in June 2005 and going through September 2014.
She arranged fraudulent wire transfers to her bank account to steal money using the company’s health benefits plan, which she managed. Blair said she had no accomplices.
Blair worked at Tyson for more than 25 years before her termination.
