Sentencing Hearing Set For Former Los Gatos Convent Employee Accused of Fraud

After several court delays, a former lay employee of the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary Catholic Convent in Los Gatos' sentencing has been scheduled for 10 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 22 at the federal court building on South First Street in downtown San Jose.

Linda Gomez, 67, had two previous sentencing hearings scheduled in March and May of this year, but the official pronouncement of her punishment got postponed by U.S. District Judge D. Lowell Jensen.

The magistrate will preside over the hearing tomorrow in courtroom 7 on the fourth floor of the Federal Courthouse in downtown San Jose, 280 So. 1st St.

Gomez, also known as Linda Surrett, pleaded guilty in October of 2012 to 17 counts of fraud after admitting having embezzled $100,000 from the religious order.

A 2011 grand jury indictment included 14 counts of wire fraud and three counts of mail fraud against her.

The maximum statutory penalty for wire and mail fraud is 20 years in prison and a fine of $1 million, plus restitution, said U.S. Attorney Joseph Fazioli.

The prosecution has filed a sentencing memorandum laying out the recommendations for what the exact judgement should be against Gomez, Fazioli said.

Wire fraud is committed when a scheme is set up with a wire being sent like money being wired in connection to a theft.

The indictment against Gomez states that while working at the convent from 1987 to 2010 in various administrative positions she embezzled cash and charged personal purchases such as kitchen appliances for her home, jewelry, shoes, purses and other personal items to a convent credit card.

Formerly of Sunnyvale, and now residing in Chandler, AZ, Gomez worked at the convent as director of food services and the manager of the on-site convenience store. She also made purchases for the 75 Catholic nuns and 60 lay employees at the convent, according to the indictment.

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