Former Austin School Bookkeeper Sentenced for Embezzling Over $1M
AUSTIN, Texas / Thursday, April 9, 2026 – A Leander woman was sentenced in a federal court in Austin to 33 months in prison for wire fraud and tax evasion, said U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas, Justin R. Simmons.
According to court documents, Alysa Dietz Gisser, 56, was employed as a bookkeeper and accountant for a non-profit private school in Austin for children with special needs and learning disabilities. Beginning in or around 2018, she began embezzling money from the school, directing parents to make tuition and other payments to a PayPal account connected to her consulting business. Gisser had renamed her business PayPal account to reflect the name of the school to misdirect the school’s funds. Additionally, she modified the school’s accounting files to reflect that funds had been paid to the school, when in reality the funds had been transferred to her personal bank account to make credit card and mortgage payments, and install an in-ground swimming pool at her residence.
In total, between the PayPal payments and the checks deposited into her personal bank account, Gisser embezzled more than $1 million from the school. She also underreported her income by $863,963.32 between 2018 and 2021.
Gisser was charged with one count of wire fraud and one count of tax evasion on Dec. 15, 2025. She pleaded guilty to both counts on Jan. 13. In addition to the prison sentence, Gisser was ordered to pay $1,318,684.34 in restitution and had a money judgment imposed against her for $1,049,012.34.
IRS-Criminal Investigation investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Keith Henneke prosecuted the case.
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Source: U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Texas
