Vermont Bookkeeper Sentenced For Embezzling $180K From 2 Employers

Melanie McDonald, 43, of Thetford, Vermont, was sentenced on Monday to 18 months in prison for embezzling some $180,000 from two businesses, Dowd's Country Inn of Lyme, New Hampshire, and Wilder Business Services, in Wilder, Vermont, where she had been employed as a part-time bookkeeper. In 2007, McDonald pleaded guilty to interstate transportation of stolen property. Prosecutors alleged that McDonald's schemes lasted from 2001 until 2006.

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Connecticut Man To Be Sentenced In $2.5 Million Embezzlement Case

Steven DeCecco, 52, of Stratford, Connecticut, is scheduled to be sentenced tomorrow for embezzling more than $2.5 million from an unnamed local employer where he had served as controller. Our research suggests that the company in question is Expand International of America, Inc., an event and outdoor display manufacturing company. DeCecco was arrested last April and charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. According to prosecutors, DeCecco and an unnamed former female employee "directed numerous wire transfers to their own accounts and accounts for their benefit." DeCecco allegedly approved hundreds of transfers and his co-conspirator hid the thefts by reconciling the company's books and records. Authorities believe he used a large portion of the stolen funds to purchase 20 or more high-end classic cars. DeCecco was originally arrested and charged last April and he pleaded guilty last November to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, three counts of wire fraud, and two counts of interstate transportation of stolen property. DeCecco faces up to 20 years in prison, plus a fine of up to $5 million and restitution.

Read the story here and here.

Read the DOJ announcement of DeCecco's arrest here.

Read the DOJ announcement of DeCecco's guilty plea here.

Update (3/23/10): DeCecco was sentenced today to 96 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, plus full restitution. DeCecco and his former colleague and co-conspirator, identified as Jaime Hoff, caused hundreds of unauthorized wire transfers from Expand International's accounts to their own accounts and third parties.

Update (4/30/10): Jaime Hoff, 30, of Watertown, Connecticut, was sentenced to 33 months in prison for her role in this embezzlement scheme. She has also been ordered to pay $2,098,050 in restitution to Expand International of America.

Former Texas CFO Accused In $3.5 Million Embezzlement Scheme

Christopher McCullough, 47, formerly of Houston, Texas and now of Frederic, Colorado, was indicted yesterday on charges he embezzled more than $3.5 million from LJA Engineering where he had been employed as chief financial officer. Prosecutors allege McCullough accessed company accounts and engaged in more than 200 unauthorized transactions in which he converted LJA funds by withdrawing cash and writing checks to pay for a wide range of personal expenses. The 7 count indictment accuses McCullough of spending the embezzled funds on such items as past due taxes, real estate in Colorado, home improvements, interior decorating, stock purchases and other personal expenses. He is also charged with interstate transportation of stolen goods - checks and financial records believed to have been taken from the company's offices after he left the company.

Read the story here and here.

Read the DOJ announcement here.

Update (5/1/10): McCullough pleaded guilty to interstate transportation of stolen property in connection with his embezzlement of some $3.5 million from LJA Engineering, where he had served as CFO and a member of the board of directors.

Update (9/8/10): McCullough was sentenced to 51 months in prison.

South Carolina Men, Known As The "3 Hebrew Boys" Found Guilty In $82 Million Ponzi Scheme

Joseph Brunson, Tim McQueen and Tony Pough, of South Carolina, who operated variously as the "3 Hewbrew Boys LLC," and Capital Consortium Group, Inc., were convicted by a jury Friday for defrauding investors out of some $82 million in a Ponzi-type investment fraud scheme. Specifically, the jury found each of them guilty on 58 counts of mail fraud, money laundering and transporting stolen goods, after deliberating for 3 hours. According to the criminal complaint, since 2004, the 3 men lured at least 7,000 investors from two dozen states, including many from military bases and churches, with promises to help pay off debt at a fraction of its cost. The investments were purported to be made in foreign currency markets. Instead, the 3 used the investments funds for their own personal purposes, including a $25 million home near Walt Disney World, three Atlanta condos, three luxury stadium boxes in Charlotte and Atlanta, more than 20 cars, eight lots at a Northeast Richland subdivision, 20 acres of Orangeburg County land, a $1 million motor coach, and a $5 million personal jet. Sentencing is pending.

Read the story here, here and here.

Read the original complaint here and the indictment here.