Lauren Ransom, a 58-year-old bookkeeper from Deerfield Beach, Florida, has been embroiled in a massive embezzlement scheme that has left her former employers reeling. According to a recent plea agreement, Ransom failed to report millions of dollars embezzled from her employers to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
Ransom, who worked as a bookkeeper at two South Florida insurance companies for 33 years, has pleaded guilty to three counts of making and subscribing a false tax return, in violation of Title 26, United States Code, Section 7206(1). Her sentencing hearing is scheduled for May 22, 2018, before U.S. District Judge Federico A. Moreno in Fort Lauderdale.
As part of her plea agreement, Ransom faces a maximum possible statutory sentence of three years in prison for each count, a $100,000 fine for each count, and restitution. The exact amount of restitution has not been disclosed.
According to stipulated facts filed with the court, Ransom used her signatory authority on the accounts to write unauthorized company checks payable to “Cash” and “Lauren Ransom.” She then cashed these checks or deposited them into her personal checking account, using the money to pay for her credit cards, mortgage, and auto loans, insurance, and other personal living expenses.
Court records also revealed that Ransom gambled and lost approximately $1,410,276.95 from December 1, 2008 to January 31, 2014 by playing slot machines. To conceal the embezzlement, Ransom altered numerous copies of cancelled checks by “whiting out” and changing the payee sections to create so-called legitimate business expenses for the insurance companies.
The defendant admitted to filing false individual tax returns, Forms 1040, for tax years 2011, 2012, and 2013 because she knowingly failed to report to the IRS the money she had unlawfully obtained through her embezzlement scheme. The false statements resulted in tax losses.
Benjamin G. Greenberg, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, commended the investigative efforts of IRS-CI. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Randy Katz.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.
Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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