Ex-Congresswoman's Aide Pleads Guilty to Stealing $23K

Courtney Hruska admitted to wiring funds from her former boss's account to pay off her own credit card debt.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 5:48pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a credit card with a cracked surface, lit by a harsh, direct camera flash against a pitch-black background, conceptually illustrating the theft of personal financial data.A cracked credit card surface reflects the harsh light, exposing the vulnerability of personal financial data in the hands of trusted staff.Alexandria Today

A former staffer for Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio, pleaded guilty to felony wire fraud after siphoning over $20,000 from her former boss's bank account to pay her own credit card bills. Courtney Hruska, 40, initially tried to blame 'hackers from the dark web' for the theft, claiming she didn't think she'd be caught because the congresswoman is not 'tech savvy.' However, Hruska later admitted to making 10 unauthorized transfers between August 2023 and July 2024 totaling nearly $23,000.

Why it matters

This case highlights the vulnerability of elected officials and their staff to internal theft and fraud, as well as the importance of robust financial controls and oversight, even in congressional offices. It also raises questions about the vetting and monitoring of congressional staffers who are entrusted with sensitive financial information.

The details

According to court filings, Hruska worked for Kaptur's Washington, D.C. office between 2015 and 2022, serving as her office scheduler, manager, and eventually administrative director. Kaptur had provided and entrusted Hruska with her personal credit card and bank account information, authorizing her to make specific purchases as part of her official duties. After leaving Kaptur's office in early 2022, Hruska began wiring money from the congresswoman's bank account to pay down her own credit card bills.

  • Hruska worked for Kaptur's office from 2015 to 2022.
  • Hruska began making unauthorized transfers from Kaptur's account in August 2023.
  • The last of the 10 transfers occurred in July 2024.
  • Kaptur discovered the transfers in late 2024 when a personal check she wrote was returned for insufficient funds.
  • Hruska pleaded guilty to felony wire fraud on March 31, 2026.

The players

Courtney Hruska

A 40-year-old former staffer for Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio, who pleaded guilty to stealing nearly $23,000 from Kaptur's bank account to pay off her own credit card debt.

Rep. Marcy Kaptur

A Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Ohio, whose bank account was illegally accessed by her former staffer, Courtney Hruska.

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What they’re saying

“Throughout the investigation into the defendant's conduct, the defendant repeatedly told investigators — both state and federal — as well as Victim and Victim's representatives, that 'hackers from the dark web' must have been responsible for causing the wires to be sent from Victim's bank account to pay the defendant's personal credit card bills.”

— Statement of Facts

What’s next

Hruska is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema in June. She faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, though she is likely to receive a lesser sentence.

The takeaway

This case highlights the importance of robust financial controls and oversight, even in congressional offices, to prevent internal theft and fraud by trusted staffers. It also raises questions about the vetting and monitoring of congressional employees who have access to sensitive financial information.