William Tye Grisel, Wire Fraud, South Carolina 2023
Columbia, South Carolina - In a shocking case of corporate deceit, William Tye Grisel, a 39-year-old Lexington man, pleaded guilty to wire fraud in federal court, embezzling over $1 million from his employer, Big Red Box, a waste management call center in Columbia, South Carolina.
According to court documents, Grisel used his position and access to company networks and credit cards to embezzle approximately $1,050,000.00 from Big Red Box (BRB) between 2013 and 2016. As the IT manager at BRB, Grisel was responsible for hiring, managing, tracking, and paying search engine optimization companies (SEOs) that generated marketing calls for the company.
Grisel started a company called Local List, which generated no calls on its own. Instead, Local List used the call lists of other SEOs, represented that these call lists were its own, and billed BRB for them. Over almost three years, Local List billed BRB around $1,049,996.97.
Senior United States District Court Judge Joseph F. Anderson, Jr. accepted Grisel's plea and will sentence him after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the United States Probation Office.
The United States Secret Service and Richland County Sheriff's Department investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Winston David Holliday, Jr., of the Columbia office is prosecuting the case.
Grisel's actions have left many wondering how he was able to deceive his employer for so long. 'This case highlights the importance of internal controls and oversight in preventing corporate fraud,' said a spokesperson for the United States Attorney's Office.
Big Red Box, a waste management call center in Columbia, South Carolina, has been cooperating fully with the investigation and has taken steps to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The case serves as a reminder that corporate fraud can have serious consequences, both financially and personally. Grisel's guilty plea is a major victory for the United States Attorney's Office and a testament to their commitment to holding individuals accountable for their actions.
Defendant's Information:
Defendant: William Tye Grisel
Criminal Charges: Wire Fraud
City and State: Columbia, South Carolina
Date: Not specified
Sentence or Outcome: Pleaded guilty
Dollar Amounts: $1,050,000.00
Key Facts
- State: South Carolina
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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