BIRMINGHAM, AL – A trusted bookkeeper and her alleged accomplice are facing the music after a brazen scheme to siphon over $175,000 from the Best Western Oak Mountain Inn in Pelham, Alabama. The case, broken by the U.S. Secret Service, reveals a calculated betrayal of trust and a blatant disregard for honest business.
Delaine Dawson Summerville, 50, of an undisclosed location, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud earlier this week. According to court documents, Summerville, formerly employed by Bryan L. Parker, CPA, used her position to pilfer funds from the hotel between 2016 and 2017. While providing bookkeeping, accounting, and payroll services, she allegedly created and cashed dozens of checks made payable to herself, directly from the hotel’s bank account.
But Summerville didn’t work alone. Authorities have also indicted Dana Michelle Braxton, 51, of Leeds, Alabama, on six counts, including wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. The indictment alleges that Braxton received checks from Summerville, drawn on the Best Western’s account, and cashed or deposited them into an account she controlled – all without the knowledge or authorization of the hotel or the accounting firm. Braxton had no legitimate connection to either entity.
“This case is about a hard-working hotel owner who had hundreds of thousands of dollars stolen from him by someone he trusted,” stated U.S. Attorney Jay E. Town. “Our office will continue to work tirelessly to bring the perpetrators of such frauds to justice.” The brazen nature of the theft, exploiting a position of trust for personal gain, underscores the vulnerability of businesses to internal fraud.
If convicted, Summerville faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 for the wire fraud charge. Braxton, facing the additional charge of aggravated identity theft, could receive up to two years in prison on top of the sentence for wire fraud. The Secret Service investigation, led by Special Agent in Charge Michael Williams, continues to unravel the full extent of the scheme.
An indictment is not a declaration of guilt. Both Summerville and Braxton are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Assistant U.S. Attorney John B. Ward is handling the prosecution for the Northern District of Alabama. This case serves as a stark reminder that even seemingly trustworthy individuals can engage in criminal activity, and vigilance is crucial in protecting businesses from financial harm.
Related Federal Cases
- Jeffrey Phares, Grave Marker Embezzlement, WHEELING WV, 2023 · Virginia
- Bradley Temple Pleads Guilty to COVID-19 Relief Fund Embezzlement, … · Mississippi
- Bradley Temple, COVID-19 Relief Money Embezzlement, Wheeling WV, 2023 · Virginia
- SouthernCare Inc, Hospice Care Fraud, Birmingham AL, 2023 · Alabama
- SouthernCare Inc, Hospice Fraudulent Claims, Birmingham AL, 2023 · Georgia
Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
US NewsUS NewsUS NewsUS News