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New Jersey Woman Pleads Guilty to $920,380 Wire Fraud Scheme
Lisa Popewiny, a 55-year-old woman from Clifton, New Jersey, has pleaded guilty to her role in a scheme to defraud a New Jersey-based trucking company of over $900,000. Popewiny, who worked as a payroll clerk at Clifford B. Finkle Jr. Inc., admitted to falsifying payroll records to generate fraudulent paychecks payable to non-existent employees.
According to documents filed in the case, Popewiny and three men, including Miguel Vidal, Angel D. Vidal, and Angel Gabriel Vidal, engaged in the scheme from June 2012 to April 2015. The men, who were former employees of the company, allowed their personal identifying information to be used to generate the fraudulent paychecks. They then converted the checks, many of which were deposited into their bank accounts and funneled out of the accounts in cash.
The scheme came to light when the owners of the company, in an effort to investigate suspected fraud, distributed the payroll checks to employees. After all of the payroll checks had been distributed, several paychecks remained unclaimed that turned out to be fraudulently issued.
Popewiny’s charge carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense. Sentencing is scheduled for January 12, 2018.
Acting U.S. Attorney William E. Fitzpatrick credited criminal investigators in the U.S. Attorney’s Office and postal inspectors from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service with the investigation leading to today’s guilty plea.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cari Fais and Lee M. Cortes Jr., Deputy Chief of the Special Prosecutions Division. Popewiny is represented by Christopher D. Adams Esq. of Holmdel, New Jersey.
Key Facts
- State: New Jersey
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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