WILMINGTON — Joan Donald, 55, of Ocean View, pleaded guilty to wire fraud and tax evasion charges Wednesday in federal court, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware announced.

The case arose from her theft of more than $1 million from her former employer, authorities said.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Donald worked as a bookkeeper for Dovetail Interior Architecture and Design, a high-end design company in Bethany Beach. For more than seven years, she perpetrated a con against Dovetail and its owner, an elderly woman with ailing health, by using its funds to pay personal credit card bills, the announcement said.

When confronted with the fraud, Donald confessed that she had been embezzling from Dovetail for years, the attorney’s office added. An FBI investigation revealed that Donald had stolen over $1 million.

Donald faces up to 20 years in prison and will be sentenced Aug. 4, though sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum. Chief U.S. District Judge Colm Connolly will impose the penalty.

“Dovetail’s story is a remarkable example of the American dream, a small business built from the ground up by a single mother of four,” said David Weiss, U.S. attorney for the District of Delaware.

“Month after month, year after year, however, Joan Donald breached the trust placed in her and used Dovetail as her own private ATM, effectively bankrupting the business and owner in the process. Thanks to the efforts of our law enforcement partners, Donald is now a convicted felon.”

According to FBI Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski, “(Wednesday’s) sentence has put an end to Joan Donald’s flagrant actions and complete disrespect of the law. For years Donald was a trusted insider who preyed on her employer by stealing funds to financially enrich herself. Those who abuse their position of trust for their own financial greed will not be tolerated.

“The FBI and our partners will continue to uncover those committing fraud and causing harm to businesses and individuals for personal gain.”