Amaris Delapena, a 50-year-old Windermere resident, was sentenced to four years and six months in federal prison for wire fraud and bank fraud.
The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Judge Paul G. Byron, who also issued a forfeiture order for $194,060.09, the proceeds of Delapena’s fraud scheme. Delapena was convicted by a federal jury on June 20, 2025, according to US Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe.
Court documents show that Delapena embezzled funds from an Orlando law company where she worked as a paralegal. She redirected checks intended for the law firm’s clients and vendors to accounts she controlled, and she transferred client funds from the law firm’s account to her accounts. Between committing the acts and her conviction, Delapena got a law degree and became a licensed attorney in Florida.
The US Secret Service investigated the matter, and Assistant US Attorney Diane Hu prosecuted it. Nicole M. Andrejko, Assistant United States Attorney, is handling the forfeiture proceedings.
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