3 Federal Employees Suspected of Fraud

Three federal workers were booked on suspicion of theft, fraud and money laundering Wednesday in connection with an elaborate scheme to pocket money from a Woodland Hills credit card processing firm, authorities said.

Carolyn Deruso, 60, a Treasury Department employee, her daughter Lelani Deruso, 31, a Defense Department worker and Wanda McClain, 31, also of Treasury--will be arraigned today in Van Nuys Municipal Court, prosecutors said.

Each of the women, who are being held in lieu of $51,256 bail, was charged Wednesday by the Los Angeles district attorney’s office with one count of grand theft of personal property, fraudulent use of access cards, receiving stolen property, computer access and fraud and money laundering.

If convicted on all counts, each faces a maximum of five years in state prison and a $20,000 fine, the district attorney’s office said in a statement.

Investigators with the Defense Department and Secret Service arrested the women at the Van Nuys Federal Building.

In the statement, authorities said Carolyn Deruso recruited McClain to help her divert money from Superior Bank Card Services of Woodland Hills.

The statement did not say how the alleged crimes were committed, and a district attorney’s spokeswoman reached late Wednesday could offer no further explanation.

The statement said McClain’s personal bank account was used to receive $31,000 from the credit card processing firm. It also said Deruso recruited her daughter, Lelani, whose bank account was used to receive $28,000 from the card processing company.

Superior Bank Card Services processes point-of-sale credit card transactions for retail merchants and issues verification numbers allowing a sale.

The complaint alleges that in addition to the firm, the defendants victimized MasterCard, Visa, Discovery and Sleep Comfort Adjustable Beds.