Joya M. Kinney, 45, of Bellevue, Nebraska, was sentenced to nine months in federal prison for embezzling funds from a private school that received federal benefits. The sentencing took place on September 24, 2025, at the federal court in Omaha before Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. In addition to her prison sentence, Kinney will serve three years of supervised release and must pay $495,652.13 in restitution.
Kinney served as the bookkeeper for the school from 2014 until her termination in May 2023. During her tenure, she managed the school’s finances and accounting records. The school had received a Paycheck Protection Program loan of about $302,500 through the CARES Act.
The embezzlement came to light in May 2023 when an outside auditor discovered discrepancies in the school’s financial records. When questioned by staff members, Kinney admitted to making four unauthorized cash withdrawals of $10,000 each. Following this admission, she was terminated from her role.
A subsequent investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bellevue Police Department revealed that Kinney had embezzled roughly $452,176 between March 2016 and May 2023. According to evidence collected by investigators, Kinney diverted funds through various means including cash withdrawals, payments toward personal credit cards using school funds, unauthorized purchases charged to the school account, and receiving checks without authorization.
United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods stated: “Joya M. Kinney…was sentenced on September 24, 2025…for one count of embezzlement from an organization that received federal benefits…Chief United States District Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. sentenced Kinney to 9 months’ imprisonment…After Kinney’s release from prison, she will begin a 3-year term of supervised release…Kinney was additionally ordered to pay $495,652.13 in restitution.”
This case was investigated by both the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bellevue Police Department.
