Silver Spring Woman Pleads Guilty In Federal Wire Fraud Scheme

SILVER SPRING, MD — Federal prosecutors say a Silver Spring marketing executive has pleaded guilty in a scheme that defrauded two employers of more than $855,000.

Rebecca Jelfo, 47, faces up to 20 years in prison for wire fraud. She is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Peter J. Messitte on Dec. 10.

Citing her plea agreement, prosecutors say Jelfo defrauded an airline company and a global hospitality company by submitting fake and inflated invoices. This happened over the course of several years.

From approximately 2008 to 2015, Jelfo was Head of Marketing and Communications for the Americas for the global airline. Prosecutors only refer to the airline as "Company A."

Between 2016 and 2018, Jelfo was Senior Director of Luxury Brand Marketing – Partnerships and Promotions for a global hospitality group called "Company B."

While working at both companies, Jelfo admitted to submitting "false and inflated invoices" for a number of marketing services or products provided to her employers, the U.S. Department of Justice said in a statement.

"Jelfo knew that the invoices did not accurately reflect the products or services provided by the vendors, but took steps to make sure that Company A and Company B paid the invoices. After the companies paid the invoices, Jelfo instructed the vendors to remit payments to cover her personal debts," officials said.

One of the vendors remitted payments for Jelfo's personal expenses totaling $263,697, prosecutors said. From as early as May 21, 2015 through Aug. 24, 2016, the vendor made a $13,000 payment to Jelfo's Neiman Marcus credit card account, a $28,000 payment to her Saks Fifth Avenue credit card account, and bought $15,000 in American Express gift cards. Prosecutors say she used some of those gift cards at a high-end furniture store in Washington, D.C.

While working at Company B, prosecutors said Jelfo got a second vendor to remit a payment of $106,302 to her personal American Express credit card account. On at least one occasion, Jelfo also instructed a third vendor to submit an inflated invoice to Company B. She reportedly provided the vendor with fraudulent documentation that justified the inflated invoice.

After receiving the payment from the hospitality company, the vendor made a $64,851.24 payment to Jelfo's personal credit card account, according to prosecutors.

Jelfo told officials she stole at least $855,587.25 from both companies between May 21, 2016 and Jan. 31, 2018.

As part of her plea deal, Jelfo must forfeit any proceeds or property obtained as a result of the scheme and pay at least $855,587.25 in restitution.