Michael Mayfield, Wire Fraud, Georgia 2024

Ex-Environmental Manager Pleads Guilty to Stealing Over $1 Million from Employer

GAINESVILLE, Ga. – Michael Mayfield, a former environmental manager at the Mars Wrigley factory in Flowery Branch, Georgia, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

According to court documents, Mayfield orchestrated a scheme to defraud his employer by stealing rebate checks and submitting false invoices to his company. The scheme resulted in over $1 million in losses for Mars Wrigley.

U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan said, ‘Mayfield stole over one million dollars from his employer related to environmental and recycling programs. After being entrusted with a fiduciary role, he betrayed that trust and demonstrated that he cared more about his personal gain than the faith his employer placed in him.’

The FBI’s Atlanta Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Sean Burke, added, ‘Michael Mayfield not only betrayed his employer, but his actions ultimately increased the costs of business not only for the company but its customers too.’

As part of the scheme, Mayfield diverted rebate checks to his own company, WWJ Recycling, and used the funds to pay for personal expenses, including a hunting trip worth over $100,000, a donation to his church for over $80,000, and personal checks totaling over $200,000.

Mayfield also directed his co-conspirator to create false invoices from ASA Safety Supply, a supplier to Mars Wrigley, which were used to obtain payment for personal items, including football supplies for the Flowery Branch High School football team and gift cards.

Mayfield pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud on August 19, 2024, and is scheduled to be sentenced on December 2, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. before U.S. District Judge Richard W. Story in Gainesville, Georgia.

The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Huber is prosecuting the case.

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