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Coatesville Woman Sentenced for Wire Fraud
PHILADELPHIA – In a shocking case of corporate betrayal, Laura Wayne, 38, of Coatesville, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 36 months in prison for seven counts of wire fraud in connection with her embezzlement from Comcast employee retirement accounts.
Wayne, who was an administrator of the employee retirement accounts at the Comcast Corporation, created dummy retirement accounts and used those accounts to defraud Comcast of approximately $124,876. From April of 2013 through January of 2014, Wayne used the names, dates of birth, and social security numbers of her family and relatives, to create what appeared to be 401(k) retirement accounts managed by Fidelity Company for the benefit of Comcast employees.
She used her access to Comcast records to fraudulently fund each account for the maximum amount allowed by law and to obtain the matching funds from Comcast. She then created fake user names and passwords to transfer all of the money in the dummy Fidelity accounts to her personal bank accounts. When she was caught, she lied to both Comcast and an FBI agent and falsely claimed that she had paid the money back.
Wayne’s scheme was uncovered, and she was subsequently charged with seven counts of wire fraud. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Wendy Beetlestone ordered restitution in the amount of $124,876, three years of supervised release, restitution, and a $700 special assessment.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Laurie Magid. This case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of corporate accountability and the need for vigilance in protecting employee retirement accounts.
The defendant’s involvement in this scheme has left many questioning the lax controls in place at Comcast and the ability of individuals with access to sensitive information to exploit them for personal gain.
In the end, justice has been served, and Laura Wayne will be held accountable for her actions. However, the impact of this case will likely be felt for years to come as companies work to strengthen their internal controls and protect their employees’ hard-earned savings.
Defendant: Laura Wayne
Criminal Charges: Seven counts of wire fraud
City and State: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Exact Date: Today
Sentence or Outcome: 36 months in prison
Dollar Amounts: $124,876
Company Affected: Comcast Corporation
Bank/Fund Involved: Fidelity Company
Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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