Charlotte McEwen, 50, of Nashville, Tenn., pleaded guilty yesterday to eight counts of wire fraud in connection with a scheme to embezzle approximately $466,331 from her former employer, announced David Rivera, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee. McEwen was indicted by a federal grand jury on March 16, 2016. In a hearing before U.S. District Court Judge Aleta Trauger, McEwen admitted to engaging in a scheme to embezzle from her employer, beginning in February 2010 and continuing for more than three years. McEwen admitted that while employed as the sole Payroll Garnishment Processor for Ingersoll Rand, Inc. (IR) in Nashville, she fraudulently transferred, via electronic transfers, approximately $466,331 from an IR bank account to her personal bank accounts. The funds McEwen transferred to herself were funds she withheld from IR employee paychecks in her position as IRs Payroll Garnishment Processor, and pursuant to garnishment orders issued by creditors for unpaid debts owed by IR employees.
McEwen then created and submitted fraudulent documents to IR in an attempt to conceal her actions. McEwen faces up to 20 years in prison on each fraud count. She also faces a criminal fine of up to $250,000 for each fraud count, forfeiture of criminal proceeds, and will be ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $466,331. McEwen will be sentenced by Judge Trauger on Jan. 26, 2017. Her sentence will be imposed by the Court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and applicable federal statutes.
The case was investigated by the United States Secret Service. The United States is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas J. Jaworski.
--DOJ Middle District of Tennessee
Source: U.S. Secret Service