Oklahoma City, OK – Julie Ann Smith, 54, of Jones, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 94 months in federal prison for embezzling over $1 million from her former employer, Power Equipment & Engineering, Inc. (PE&E), and for tax fraud.
According to the indictment, Smith, who worked at PE&E from 2000 to 2012, forged 195 checks totaling over $1 million using the company owner’s signature stamp without permission or knowledge. She used the money to pay personal expenses, including credit card bills and a fake company she controlled.
The evidence presented at trial showed that Smith disguised the forged checks through false entries on PE&E’s accounting system and directed other forged checks to credit card companies, financial institutions, and vendors for her personal benefit. Additionally, Smith filed materially false federal income tax returns for years 2008 through 2012.
On October 30, 2014, a federal jury found Smith guilty of 36 counts of bank fraud, mail fraud, aggravated identity theft, forged securities, and tax fraud. United States District Judge Stephen P. Friot sentenced Smith to 94 months in federal prison, ordering her to pay $1,237,939.22 in restitution, with $1,036,816.22 going to PE&E for the embezzlement and $201,123.00 to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
The 94-month sentence includes 70 months’ imprisonment for the bank fraud, mail fraud, and forged security counts, followed by 24 additional months in prison for one count of aggravated identity theft. Judge Friot also sentenced Smith to 36 months’ imprisonment for the tax fraud, to be served at the same time as the 70-month term of imprisonment. After her incarceration, Smith will be on supervised release for five years.
The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations, United States Secret Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Oklahoma City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Chris M. Stephens and Jessica L. Perry prosecuted the case.
Reference is made to court filings for further information.
MANDATORY FACTS:
Defendant/Respondent: Julie Ann Smith
Criminal Charges: 36 counts of bank fraud, mail fraud, aggravated identity theft, forged securities, and tax fraud
City and State: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Date: October 30, 2014
Sentence/Outcome: 94 months in federal prison and ordered to pay $1,237,939.22 in restitution
Dollar Amounts: $1,237,939.22 in restitution, $1,036,816.22 to PE&E, $201,123.00 to the IRS
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Key Facts
- State: Oklahoma
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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