Oakland, CA – A shocking case of financial deceit has come to light as Scott Thomas Hatanaka, a finance manager from the East Bay, was recently indicted on charges of wire fraud and tax evasion. According to the indictment, Hatanaka allegedly embezzled a staggering $250,000 from his employer, Foster Wheeler Martinez, Inc. (“FWM”).
FWM, a company operating a natural gas combined cycle cogeneration facility, produced electrical power using a natural gas turbine while simultaneously converting excess heat into additional electrical power. As the finance manager, Hatanaka was entrusted with handling the company’s finances, but instead, he allegedly used his position to draft company checks made payable to himself and his personal credit card company.
In a brazen attempt to conceal his thefts, Hatanaka allegedly forged signatures on the checks and entered false ledger entries into the company’s accounting system. This scheme, which spanned a year, was uncovered after a thorough investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation.
Hatanaka is scheduled to make his initial appearance in federal court in Oakland on April 8, 2015, at 9:30 a.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Donna M. Ryu. His next scheduled appearance will be set before the Honorable Jeffery S. White, U.S. District Court Judge.
It’s worth noting that an indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, the maximum statutory penalty for each count of wire fraud in violation of 18 U.S.C § 1343 is 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. The maximum statutory penalty for each count of tax evasion in violation of 26 U.S.C § 7201 is 6 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
The prosecution is being led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Wade M. Rhyne, with the assistance of Janice Pagsanjan and Noble Hughes. The case is a result of a year-long investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of transparency and accountability in financial dealings. As the investigation unfolds, it will be interesting to see how Hatanaka’s alleged scheme unfolds in court.
RELATED: Robert Morgan Indicted in $500M Mortgage Fraud Scheme
Related Federal Cases
- Tax Fixer Gets 18 Months for $1.2M Fraud Scheme · Alaska
- Sacramento Woman Pleads Guilty to $600k Wire Fraud · California
- Cook Sentenced for Mortgage Fraud Scheme in Utah · Utah
- David Gomez Guilty in $3M Union Health Care Fraud Scheme · Montana
- Dorothy Matsuba Led $30M Mortgage Relief Fraud Scheme · California
Key Facts
- State: California
- Category: White Collar Crime|Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
ðŸâ€Â’ Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
US NewsUS NewsUS NewsUS News