A former California resident who pleaded guilty to an embezzlement scheme has been sentenced to 29 months in jail. The man was formerly an executive of Driscoll’s, a berry company based in California. While he worked for the company, he submitted several fake invoices to his employer during 2017 and 2018. He embezzled $1.5 million, which he used to buy a new vehicle and a five-bedroom home in Naperville, Illinois. He also gave his girlfriend a cashier’s check worth $75,000.
Shortly after he started working for the company in 2017, the man learned that he could approve invoices up to $250,000. He created a new bank account and approved fraudulent invoices for a fake company called TNC US Inc. After each approval, the money was transferred to his bank account. He resigned several months later when he learned that Driscoll’s was launching an investigation into the embezzlement scheme.
After he was arrested, the government seized the house and vehicle he bought with the money, as well as the $700,000 in the bank account. In June, he pleaded guilty. In addition to the jail time, he must pay $1.5 million in restitution to the company.
How to proceed when facing criminal charges
Being accused of a criminal charge like fraud or embezzlement could upend your life and cause permanent damage to your reputation. When faced with criminal charges, consider speaking with an attorney. The attorney might be able to challenge the prosecution and have the charges reduced or dismissed altogether, depending on the circumstances. They could also help you build the strongest case possible and protect you against false accusations.