ODESSA, Texas (KOSA) – A Leander woman has been sentenced to nearly three years in federal prison after admitting to stealing more than $1 million from a private school for children with special needs.
Federal prosecutors say 56-year-old Alysa Dietz Gisser was sentenced in Austin to 33 months in prison for wire fraud and tax evasion, according to the U.S Attorney’s Office release.
The case was announced by U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas.
According to court documents, Gisser worked as a bookkeeper and accountant for an Austin-based nonprofit school.
Investigators say that starting around 2018, she began diverting tuition payments and other funds by directing parents to send money to a PayPal account tied to her personal consulting business.
Authorities say she disguised the account by renaming it to match the school’s name, making it appear legitimate.
She also altered the school’s accounting records to show payments had been received, when the money was actually being deposited into her personal bank account.
Prosecutors say Gisser used the stolen funds for personal expenses, including credit card payments, her mortgage and the installation of an in-ground swimming pool at her home.
In total, officials say she embezzled more than $1 million and underreported her income by more than $863,000 between 2018 and 2021.
Gisser was charged in December 2025 and pleaded guilty to both counts in January.
In addition to her prison sentence, she was ordered to pay more than $1.3 million in restitution and faces a money judgment of just over $1 million.
The case was investigated by IRS Criminal Investigation.
Officials say the agency’s Houston Field Office covers a large region that includes Austin and stretches west to Odessa.
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