California Construction News staff writer
A former office manager and controller at a family-owned construction company in South Lake Tahoe has been convicted of embezzling more than $1.4 million from the business, U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced. The jury found Kami Elois Power, 54, guilty of 11 counts of wire fraud, three counts of bank fraud, and three counts of aggravated identity theft following a six-day trial before U.S. District Judge Dena M. Coggins.
Court documents show that between November 2019 and May 2023, the office manager disguised fraudulent transfers as payments to vendors—using both real companies and fictitious entities created with personal initials—and as payroll or reimbursements. The defendant also used the company’s credit card for personal expenses, including paying off personal credit cards.
Funds stolen during the scheme were used to purchase two homes, multiple vehicles and ATVs, a horse, and cover luxury items such as field-level football tickets and a $29,000 vacation to Hawaii.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI, the El Dorado County District Attorney’s Office, and the South Lake Tahoe Police Department, with prosecution by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elliot Wong and Dhruv Sharma.
Sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 27, 2026, with Power facing maximum penalties of 20 years in prison and $250,000 fines per wire fraud count, 30 years and $1 million fines per bank fraud count, and mandatory two-year terms for each count of aggravated identity theft.
