Fast Food Manager Pleads Guilty to $140K Wire Fraud Scam

A 36-year-old Woodbury man has admitted to swindling his employer out of over $140,000 in a brazen wire fraud scheme, announced United States Attorney Andrew M. Luger.

Timothy Michael Hill Jr., 36, of Woodbury, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud in U.S. District Court before Judge Paul A. Magnuson. According to court documents, Hill embezzled the funds between September 2022 and October 2023 while working as a manager at a fast-food franchise restaurant located at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.

Hill was responsible for collecting and making daily cash deposits into a safe deposit box, but instead of doing so, he pocketed some or all of the cash. To conceal his scheme, Hill used future cash receipts to cover his theft, creating a false impression that the cash deposits were delayed rather than stolen.

He also sent regular emails to his employer’s accounting personnel, falsely claiming that he was belatedly depositing cash from earlier dates. In reality, Hill was using cash collected during the ensuing time period to conceal his embezzlement.

Court documents reveal that Hill spent the stolen cash on a range of lavish items, including jewelry, online sports betting, and subscriptions to the adult website Only Fans. He also transferred thousands of dollars through CashApp to various individuals, including female colleagues in exchange for personal photos and videos.

Over the course of 13 months, Hill knowingly and willfully embezzled approximately $144,000 from his employer. He faces sentencing at a later date and is currently free on bond. The case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI and the Minneapolis Airport Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew C. Murphy is prosecuting the case. The guilty plea is a significant blow to Hill, who has compromised the trust of his employer and the public.

The FBI and the Minneapolis Airport Police Department are to be commended for their tireless efforts in bringing Hill to justice. This case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of accountability and transparency in the workplace.