United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Texas

07/09/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 07/09/2025 17:13

McCreery Aviation finance director admits to $1.2 million mail fraud scheme

Press Release

McCreery Aviation finance director admits to $1.2 million mail fraud scheme

Wednesday, July 9, 2025
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For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Texas

McALLEN, Texas - A 57-year-old Mission resident has pleaded guilty to mail fraud and diverting company funds for her own benefit, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Elizabeth Batten was the director of financing at McCreery Aviation in the Rio Grande Valley from 2019 to 2023. As part of her plea, she admitted that during her tenure, she diverted company funds to pay for her personal expenses. She used signed blank company checks, intended for legitimate business purposes, to settle her personal credit card accounts.

She also used the U.S. Postal Service to conceal her behavior and actions by mailing her fraudulent payments to multiple credit card companies in different states.

The investigation into Batten began after a McCreery Aviation employee noticed irregularities in the handling of company checks in late 2023.

It revealed she had fraudulently diverted a total of $1.2 million as part of her scheme.

U.S. District Judge Drew B. Tipton will impose sentencing Oct. 7. At that time, Batten faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

As a part of the plea, Batten agreed to pay $1.191 million in restitution to McCreery Aviation.

She was permitted to remain on bond pending her sentencing hearing.

The FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jose A. Garcia prosecuted the case.

Updated July 9, 2025
Topic
Financial Fraud
Component
USAO - Texas, Southern
United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Texas published this content on July 09, 2025, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on July 09, 2025 at 23:13 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at support@pubt.io