PITTSBURGH, Pa – In a shocking turn of events, Clairton resident Tracey Smith, 56, pleaded guilty to four counts of wire fraud in federal court, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
The charges against Smith stem from her actions as a comptroller at a Pittsburgh engineering firm, where she embezzled company funds for her personal use between 2023.
According to the court, Smith issued herself additional payroll checks, made unauthorized credit card transactions with company credit cards, and falsified expense reports, totaling approximately $673,556.80 in embezzled funds.
Assistant United States Attorney Gregory C. Melucci is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation that led to Smith’s prosecution.
The law provides for a total sentence of 20 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both as to each count. Judge Cathy Bissoon scheduled sentencing for July 17, 2025.
As for Smith’s prior record, the court will determine the seriousness of the offense and her prior criminal history, if any, to decide the actual sentence imposed.
The guilty plea is a significant blow to Smith, and the sentence she faces will likely be severe. Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story.
"The actions of Tracey Smith demonstrate a clear breach of trust and a blatant disregard for the law," said Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti. "We will continue to hold individuals accountable for their actions and work tirelessly to protect the public from financial crimes.
Related Federal Cases
- Laquanta Grant, Tax Fraud and Identity Theft, Alabama 2010 · Washington
- Christopher Furman, Wire Fraud and Money Laundering, Pennsylvania 2009 · California
- Sark Wire Corporation, PPP Fraud, Albany NY, 2023 · New York
- Emily Wilson, Investment Adviser Fraud, Pennsylvania, 2023 · Georgia
- McKenzie Marie Earley, $10M Wire Fraud, C.D. California, 2023 · Louisiana
Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Category: White Collar Crime|Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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