A former paralegal from Chicago is now facing the possibility of a 20-year prison stretch after copping with a major case of fraud. Becky Louise Sutton, a former employee of a Chicago law firm, has pleaded guilty to wire fraud after siphoning off more than $600,000 from bankruptcy estates over nearly a decade. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Sutton’s embezzlement rampage stretched from 2009 to 2018.
Sutton, 67, now residing in Austin, Texas, dipped into more than 40 bankruptcy estate accounts under her watch, enriching her own coffers at the expense of her firm and a long list of creditors. In her plea agreement, the former paralegal admitted to orchestrating the fraudulent transfers, which fleeced not just creditors, but also the very bedrock of her firm and a partner who had placed trust in her work. In one devious move, Sutton even funneled cash through a company bearing a name strikingly similar to one of the firm's genuine creditors, to mask her illicit activities.
The deception has culminated in a conviction that carries a hefty penalty – up to two decades behind bars. The sentencing is slated for April 2, 2024, with U.S. District Judge Mary M. Rowland presiding over the fate of the accused.
The guilty plea was announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Morris Pasqual and Special Agent-in-Charge Robert W. "Wes" Wheeler, Jr. The U.S. Trustee Program also provided invaluable assistance in exposing the fraud.
