Nevada business travel executive pleads guilty in NYC court to $17M phony-trips fraud

Travel exec admits $17M phony-trips fraud in NYC

NEW YORK — The president of a Nevada firm that manages other companies’ business travel has pleaded guilty in a New York City court to stealing at least $17 million by booking bogus trips.

Tri-Pen Management Corp. chief Victoria Wofford pleaded guilty Wednesday to grand larceny.

Prosecutors say she got American Express to pay her for sham travel she booked for clients. They say she used some of the money to buy a Florida apartment and help her husband invest in a restaurant chain.

The executive vice president of Carson City, Nev.-based Tri-Pen says she knew nothing about the case. The American Express Co. says it’s looking into the matter.

The 53-year-old Wofford faces at least a year in prison. She’s being allowed to work on repaying the money before her sentence is decided.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

NEW YORK (AP) — The president of a Nevada firm that manages other companies’ business travel has pleaded guilty in a New York City court to stealing at least $17 million by booking bogus trips.

Tri-Pen Management Corp. chief Victoria Wofford pleaded guilty Wednesday to grand larceny.

Prosecutors say she got American Express to pay her for sham travel she booked for clients. They say she used some of the money to buy a Florida apartment and help her husband invest in a restaurant chain.

The executive vice president of Carson City, Nev.-based Tri-Pen says she knew nothing about the case. American Express representatives haven’t answered e-mail inquiries.

The 53-year-old Wofford faces at least a year in prison. She’s being allowed to work on repaying the money before her sentence is decided.