Florida man admits stealing from retirement account

A Florida man pleaded guilty Wednesday to stealing money from a retirement account managed by a Lincolnshire company.

Lake County Circuit Judge James Booras placed Javier Muniz, 26, on probation for three years after accepting his plea to computer fraud and ordered him to pay $42,480 in restitution.

Assistant State's Attorney Mary Stanton said Muniz, of Orlando, was a contract employee of Hewitt and Associates and worked as a customer service representative.

Between Dec. 4, 2009 and March 24 of this year, Muniz transferred the money from the 401(k) account of a 67-year-old Miami woman and deposited the money in his own bank account.

An investigator for Hewitt traced the transfers to Muniz after a relative of the woman complained to the company, and that investigator contacted Lincolnshire police.

Muniz admitted taking the money in an interview with a police detective.

He was arrested April 22 and originally charged with identity theft and money laundering, but Stanton said she agreed to reduce the charge in exchange for the guilty plea.

Booras also ordered Muniz to perform 250 hours of public service and said he must surrender any computer equipment seized as a part of the investigation to police.