Farmington Exec Steals $1.7M, Gets 18 Months

SALT LAKE CITY – A Farmington man learned the hard way that trust doesn’t pay the bills. Timothy Sean Edgar, 44, was sentenced today to 18 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to wire fraud and money laundering. Edgar systematically pilfered approximately $1.7 million from his employer over a three-year period, using the stolen funds for personal enrichment.

U.S. District Court Judge Howard C. Nielson, Jr. didn’t show much leniency. Alongside the prison sentence, Edgar will serve three years of supervised release and is on the hook for a hefty $1,778,251 in restitution to the victim – a small business that apparently placed too much faith in its employee. The scheme ran from 2021 until it unraveled in October 2024.

Court documents paint a picture of calculated deception. Edgar wasn’t just skimming off the top. He established a fraudulent sales channel on a popular online marketplace, leveraging his position to access the company’s vendor portal. He then redirected Automated Clearing House (ACH) payments directly into his own bank account. A cynical touch? Edgar covered his tracks by making payments *back* to the company using his personal credit card, attempting to mask the outflow of funds.

Acting U.S. Attorney Felice John Viti didn’t mince words. “This case is an example of a defendant who used the victim’s trust against them,” Viti stated. “Mr. Edgar took advantage of a small business by building a strong relationship with his employer and gained access and control that he then used to perpetrate his fraud scheme.” Viti emphasized the office’s commitment to combating fraud and pursuing justice for victims.

The investigation was a joint effort, highlighting the collaborative nature of federal law enforcement. Agents from the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office, and the North Salt Lake City Police Department all contributed to bringing Edgar to justice. It’s a reminder that even seemingly sophisticated schemes are vulnerable to scrutiny.

Assistant United States Attorneys Mark E. Woolf and Jacob J. Strain handled the prosecution. Edgar’s case serves as a stark warning: betraying the trust of an employer, especially a small business, carries severe consequences. The feds are watching, and they’re prepared to send a message – stealing isn’t worth it.