Rebecca Frith Arrested in $105K Wire Fraud Scheme

Rebecca Frith, 44, formerly of Birmingham and now living in Sunset, Texas, was arrested today by FBI agents on 22 counts of wire fraud for allegedly stealing $105,309 from two Alabama businesses where she served as controller.

The indictment, handed down Dec. 28 by a federal grand jury in Birmingham and unsealed today, charges Frith with 20 counts of wire fraud between April 2014 and June 2016 while she worked at Iron Tribe Fitness, a Birmingham-based fitness franchise. During that time, she allegedly used her access to company bank and credit card accounts at Servis1st Bank to funnel business funds toward personal expenses.

Prosecutors say Frith set up automatic drafts from Iron Tribe’s accounts to pay her personal cell phone, water, power, and cable bills. She also charged thousands of dollars in unauthorized personal spending, including food, pet care, vehicle maintenance, car payments, taxes, flights, hotels, and family vacations.

After resigning from Iron Tribe Fitness in June 2016, Frith took a controller position at The Pants Store in Leeds, Alabama. Within weeks, the indictment alleges, she used her access to the retail store’s Merrill Lynch business account to set up automatic payments for her $1,650 monthly apartment rent—diverting company funds for personal use.

Frith was taken into custody without incident at her workplace in Texas. She appeared before a federal magistrate judge today in Texas and is scheduled for arraignment in U.S. District Court in Birmingham on Jan. 19. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine per count.

The FBI led the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Robin Beardsley Mark is prosecuting the case. The indictment seeks forfeiture of $105,309 as proceeds of illegal activity. An indictment contains only charges; a defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.