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Former Managing Partner Allegedly Stole $20 Million from Law Firm and Title Agency
ATLANTA, GA – Nathan E. Hardwick IV, a former managing partner of Morris Hardwick Schneider Law Firm and Land Castle Title, and Asha R. Maurya, a former Chief Financial Officer, have been indicted for their alleged roles in a multi-million dollar embezzlement scheme.
According to the indictment, Hardwick allegedly stole over $20 million from the attorney escrow accounts and operating accounts of Morris Hardwick Schneider and LandCastle Title between 2005 and 2014. Maurya, who was employed by the firm from 2009 to 2014, is accused of assisting Hardwick in the scheme and also stealing approximately $900,000 from the firm’s accounts to pay her own personal expenses.
Hardwick allegedly began experiencing severe financial problems in the late 2000s, when a sharp decline in the residential real estate market made the firm less profitable. He was subject to a July 2008 divorce decree requiring him to pay his ex-wife over $550,000 per year in alimony and other payments for five years.
The indictment alleges that Hardwick repeatedly lied to his clients, law partners, banks, and others about the firm’s financial situation. The allegations are especially troubling given that the actions were orchestrated by a lawyer who swore an oath to uphold the law and to represent his clients with integrity.
The indictment charges Hardwick with conspiracy, wire fraud, and related crimes, while Maurya is charged with conspiracy, wire fraud, and theft of funds from the firm’s accounts.
The case will now move to federal court, where Hardwick and Maurya will face the consequences of their alleged actions. The magnitude of the theft as alleged in the federal indictments clearly merited the resulting federal investigation and prosecution.
Defendant: Nathan E. Hardwick IV and Asha R. Maurya
Criminal Charges: Conspiracy, wire fraud, and related crimes
City and State: Atlanta, Georgia
Date: Unsealed today
Sentence or Outcome: Currently pending federal court proceedings
Dollar Amount: Over $20 million stolen
Key Facts
- State: Georgia
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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