Alicia Wilson, Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, Indiana 2024
Grimy Times Exclusive: Alicia Wilson, 37, of Indianapolis, has been sentenced for embezzling over $270,000 from WFYI Public Media.
On April 2023, Mindi B. Madison, 53, of Indianapolis, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and was sentenced to three years' probation and ordered to pay $270,876 in restitution. Later, Alicia Wilson, 37, of Indianapolis, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and was sentenced to three years' probation, with the first 15 months on home detention, and ordered to pay $270,876 in restitution.
According to court documents, Wilson and Madison conspired together to embezzle funds from WFYI, a public media organization, into their personal checking accounts.
Mindi Madison began working as an Accounting Specialist for WFYI in January 2018. WFYI was owned and operated by Metropolitan Indianapolis Public Media, Inc., and provided television and radio programming throughout Central Indiana. Madison's co-conspirator, Alicia Wilson, was neither an employee nor a vendor of WFYI.
As an Accounting Specialist, Madison had access to WFYI's accounting software and was trusted to present legitimate expenses, claims, invoices, and supporting documentation along with unsigned WFYI checks to employees at WFYI who had signature authority for their approval and signature. Instead of presenting legitimate claims that arose out of WFYI's legitimate business expenses for signature and payment, Madison abused her position of trust and presented at least 156 fake claims and invoices for payment. In an effort to conceal the theft from WFYI and their banking institutions, Madison and Wilson agreed that Madison would falsify invoices using versions of Wilson's name and businesses connected to her.
Madison tendered WFYI checks to Wilson, and they agreed that Wilson would then deposit the checks into her bank accounts. Wilson then withdrew Madison's portion in cash, and they split the illegal proceeds. Both Madison and Wilson used WFYI's stolen funds for their own personal expenditures, including rent, restaurants, groceries, fuel, and utilities.
In total, the pair embezzled approximately $270,876 from WFYI before the theft was discovered. Wilson's participation in the scheme made it virtually impossible for WFYI to detect the theft.
“Complex economic crimes such as these devastate the finances and security of businesses and individuals. The defendants' theft deprived WFYI of hundreds of thousands of dollars intended for public service and educating the community,” said Zachary A. Myers, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. “Our office will continue to work with the FBI to identify and prosecute individuals who scheme and steal to satisfy their own greed.”
The FBI investigated this case, and the sentences were imposed by U.S. District Court Judge Sarah Evans Barker. U.S. Attorney Myers thanked Assistant United States Attorney Tiffany J. Preston, who prosecuted this case.
Alicia Wilson, Defendant/Respondent: 37-year-old Indianapolis resident
Criminal Charges: Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud
City and State: Indianapolis, Indiana
Exact Date: Not specified (plea and sentencing dates)
Sentence: Three years' probation, with the first 15 months on home detention
Exact Dollar Amount: $270,876
Key Facts
- State: Indiana
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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