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Charlotte Couple Charged with Embezzling Over $200,000 from High School Booster Club
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A Charlotte high school Booster Club and his wife have been indicted on federal charges for stealing more than $200,000 from the organization.
According to allegations contained in the eight-count indictment, between 2017 and June 2020, Anthony Sharper, 39, and Deana Sharper, 45, both of Charlotte, executed a scheme to defraud and embezzle at least $200,000 from a Charlotte-area high school Athletic Booster Club.
The indictment further alleges that, Anthony Sharper, who is a certified public accountant, also committed tax fraud by failing to report any of the embezzled funds on the couple’s joint 2018 and 2019 tax returns filed with the IRS.
As alleged in the indictment, to cover up the theft and to enrich himself, between March and May 2020, Anthony Sharper submitted three fraudulent applications for federal COVID-19 relief funds, including two fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan applications, one in the name of the Booster Club and one in the name of his accounting firm, A. Sharper CPA, PLLC, and an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) application to the Small Business Administration (SBA) on behalf of his CPA firm.
Anthony Sharper and his wife are charged with wire fraud, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Anthony Sharper is also charged with two counts of making false statements to a financial institution, which carry a maximum prison term of 30 years and a $1 million fine per count; making a false statement to SBA, for which the maximum statutory penalty is 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine; two counts of engaging in monetary transactions in criminally derived property, which carry a maximum prison term of 10 years and a $500,000 fine per count; and two counts of filing a false tax return, which carry a maximum penalty of three years in prison and a $250,000 fine per count.
The government will pursue a forfeiture money judgment in the amount of at least $436,000, which the government contends constitutes the proceeds of the violations alleged in the charging document.
Anthony and Deana Sharper will be ordered by the U.S. District Court to appear on a summons for their initial appearance, which will be scheduled by the Court.
Defendant: Anthony Sharper, 39, of Charlotte, North Carolina; Deana Sharper, 45, of Charlotte, North Carolina.
Criminal Charges: Wire fraud, making false statements to a financial institution, making a false statement to SBA, engaging in monetary transactions in criminally derived property, and filing a false tax return.
City and State: CHARLOTTE, N.C.
Exact Date: Not specified.
Sentence or Outcome: To appear on a summons for their initial appearance.
Dollar Amounts: $200,000 (embezzled funds) and at least $436,000 (forfeiture money judgment).
Key Facts
- State: North Carolina
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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