New Port Richey construction business owner pleads guilty to wire and mail fraud

TAMPA — The owner of a New Port Richey construction business pleaded guilty Tuesday to defrauding a Tennessee finance company out of nearly half a million dollars.

Rosa Barrett Herrera, 43, faces up to 20 years in federal prison on each count of wire and mail fraud to which she pleaded guilty, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Prosecutors said Herrera's accounts-receivable financing scheme was operated through Covenant Construction Unlimited, which she owned. The business defrauded Capital Plus Equity, a private factoring company in Tennessee, out of more than $489,000, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

Prosecutors said Herrera sold false and fictitious invoices to the factoring company for which she received financing.