A former bookkeeper from Falmouth is facing serious charges after agreeing to plead guilty for embezzling over $1.3 million from her employer, a flooring company. Susan Figuerido, 73, racked up significant charges including wire fraud and filing a false tax return, as reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office in Massachusetts. Although a plea hearing date is pending, the consequences she may face include up to 20 years in prison for wire fraud and another three years for the tax charge.
Figuerido found herself in deep waters, from June 2015 to February 2023, as she allegedly wrote checks to herself totaling the embezzled sum. Signed off from her employer's bank account, these checks weren't recorded in the company’s accounting system, effectively scripting her deceit. Identified not reporting this income on her tax filings led to a hefty tax loss of around $353,000, the charging documents claim.
The severity of the punishment reflects the alleged crime, with the wire fraud charge alone carrying the possibility of up to 20 years in a federal clink, three years of supervised release, and monetary penalties that could reach $250,000 or double the financial damage caused. The tax-related charge is no less forgiving, subjecting her to a potential three-year sentence and similar financial penalties.
This unraveling of financial deception was made possible thanks to the collective efforts of the Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Jodi Cohen, the FBI's main person in charge of the Boston Division; and Harry T. Chavis Jr., who leads the IRS's Criminal Investigations in Boston. The Falmouth Police Department pitched in on the investigation, as the case is being taken forward by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen A. Kearney of the Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit.
While the accusations paint a clear picture of wrongdoing, it's critical to remember the charges in the document are merely allegations. Figuerido will remain on the innocent side of the ledger until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt by the justice system. At this juncture, the legal process is poised to ascertain the veracity of these claims, and time will tell the final reckoning of justice in this case of fiscal transgression.
