Erica Hornof, Mail and Wire Fraud, Illinois 2022

Mail and wire fraud have no place in the business world. Erica Hornof, a 35-year-old former employee of Maui Jim, has been charged with three counts of mail fraud and three counts of wire fraud. According to the indictment, Hornof used her position as Lead Repair Technician at Maui Jim's Peoria headquarters to steal sunglass parts from the company.

The indictment alleges that Hornof used the stolen parts to assemble sunglasses, which she then shipped to two individuals who sold them on the internet. The individuals paid Hornof through a PayPal account, and Hornof defrauded Maui Jim of over $100,000.

A summons was issued for Hornof to appear in U.S. District Court in Peoria on September 19, 2022. If convicted, Hornof faces a maximum of 20 years' imprisonment, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is conducting the investigation, with Criminal Chief Darilynn J. Knauss representing the government in the prosecution.

The indictment is merely an accusation, and Hornof is presumed innocent until proven guilty. The public is reminded that an indictment is not a conviction.

Hornof's case serves as a reminder of the importance of corporate security and the need for companies to protect themselves from insider threats.

The full name of the defendant is Erica Hornof, a resident of Bradford, Illinois. The charges against her include three counts of mail fraud and three counts of wire fraud. The indictment alleges that the crimes took place from 2021 until summer 2022.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-cdil/pr/former-maui-jim-employee-charged-mail-fraud-and-wire-fraud