Former Head Of Non-Profit In Michigan Along With Bookkeeper Plead Guilty To Conspiring To Embezzle More Than $2.6 Million

From Crains Detroit Business on 6/3/13:

The former CEO and bookkeeper of Compensation Advisory Organization of Michigan in Livonia have pled guilty to embezzling over $2.6 million from the nonprofit.

Former CEO Jerry Stage, 67, pled guilty in Wayne County Circuit Court to one count each of embezzlement over $100,000 and conspiracy to embezzle over $100,000, both felonies punishable by up to 20 years in prison.

Stage pled guilty to embezzling approximately $2.6 million from the company during an 11-year period, conspiring with George Bauer, a former bookkeeper for the organization, to cover up his tracks, Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette said in a news release.

Bauer, 55, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to embezzle $50,000 to $100,000, a 15-year felony.

Both defendants together must repay $2.6 million per a joint restitution order.
...Stage wrote numerous checks to himself for $995 over a 14-year period, totaling approximately $1 million, and paid Bauer to keep it quiet, according to the case.

He also inflated his own pay raises and bonuses, bringing himself an additional $200,000, used a company credit card to pay for personal expenses and submitted false or inflated expense reports for events, including: week-long family vacations at Walt Disney World, tuition, wedding expenses, pet care and family dinners, the attorney general said.
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