An El Paso certified public accountant who assisted real estate businesses in Texas and New Mexico was sentenced to 33 months in prison for wire fraud.
According to court documents, Carol Talamantes stole $603,738.96 from her clients between Oct. 20, 2020, and Oct. 31, 2024. Talamantes fraudulently wrote company checks to herself, electronically transferred money from company bank accounts to her personal bank accounts, and transferred funds to herself via Automatic Clearing House transactions through the real estate businesses.
Talamantes initiated more than 90 fraudulent transactions from the real estate businesses directly to herself and used the proceeds for her own personal benefit, including to pay her home mortgage and personal credit card bill.
On Sept. 26, 2025, Talamantes pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and was granted a $20,000 bond. She also agreed to a money judgment of $603,738.96.
