A former administrative professional at a Chicago company has admitted to embezzling more than $615,000 over an eight-year period. Crysta Lyon-Halbert, 54, of Tinley Park, Illinois, pleaded guilty on November 14, 2025, to a federal wire fraud charge.
According to the plea agreement, Lyon-Halbert misappropriated funds from 2015 to 2023 while working in various administrative roles within the company’s Corporate Governance function and the Office of the Chief Executive Officer. She directed company money into her personal bank account and made unauthorized credit card purchases for personal expenses such as storage rental space, rent payments, utility bills, car rentals, auto shop bills, clothing, furniture, and other items. The plea agreement states that she concealed these actions by falsely representing that the credit card payments were made to vendors who had provided services to the company.
Lyon-Halbert faces up to 20 years in federal prison. U.S. District Judge Elaine E. Bucklo has scheduled sentencing for February 24, 2026.
The announcement was made by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Hennessy is representing the government.
“The plea agreement was announced by Andrew S. Boutros, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and Douglas S. DePodesta, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago Field Office of the FBI. The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Hennessy.”
