A Texarkana real estate agent who stole more than $30,000 from a former employer pleaded guilty Wednesday.
Reena Corbin, 35, was indicted in April 2017 by a Bowie County grand jury for theft of property between $30,000 and $150,000 for embezzling from her past employer, Coldwell Banker Elite in Texarkana. Corbin appeared Wednesday with Texarkana defense attorney John Pickett at a hearing before 102nd District Judge Bobby Lockhart.
After Corbin entered her plea of guilty, Assistant District Attorney Kelley Crisp asked the court to order a pre-sentence investigation to determine the amount of resitution Corbin owes and asked that the case be set for sentencing at a later date. Crisp said she anticipates the defense will ask at sentencing that Corbin be sentenced to a term of deferred adjudication probation though the state will be seeking a final felony conviction and a term of standard probation.
If a defendant receives a deferred adjudication probation and if they successfully complete the term, they do not have a final felony conviction on their record.
Corbin pleaded guilty to a third-degree felony punishable by two to 10 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000. As Corbin has no prior felony convictions, she is eligible to receive probation.
Staff at Coldwell Banker identified seven property transactions mishandled by Corbin that resulted in her receiving money she was not entitled to have, according to a probable cause affidavit. Coldwell hired Corbin in January 2015 as a salaried employee earning more than $80,000 annually who was eligible to receive bonuses but not commission.
Corbin diverted $31,380 in funds to herself between October 2016 and December 2016, according to the affidavit. The company’s owner told investigators the transactions including diverted funds were altered or omitted entirely from the business accounting system in an effort to conceal the theft. Corbin claimed she was paid the money in error and created a fictitious wire transfer receipt showing she had paid the money back.
“It was later determined Corbin diverted the money to herself,” the affidavit states. The Texarkana office of Re/Max Preferred website currently shows Corbin is an associate with that company.
Corbin is currently free on bond.
Corbin is scheduled to appear Sept. 10 for sentencing.
