A Chatham County company manager is facing federal charges for embezzling vast sums of money using a false invoicing scheme. John Laakso, operating under multiple aliases such as "John Larson" and "John Trebesch," is accused of wire fraud, with each count potentially leading to 20 years in prison, according to a federal indictment unsealed recently.
“This indictment alleges a scheme in which an employee betrayed the trust of an employer for self-enrichment at the employer’s expense,” U.S. Attorney Jill E. Steinberg stated. Throughout his tenure at GAF Materials Corporation, Laakso, 56, from Sarasota, Florida is alleged to have created fictitious companies, these shadow entities were awarded contracts that were then subcontracted out at a lower cost, leaving Laakso to pocket the difference, according to U.S. Attorney's Office.
As per the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Georgia, the fraudulent operation went on from 2021 through 2023, during which Laakso was responsible for procuring equipment and services for GAF's Savannah facility. The indictment asserts that the accused used this position to assume fictitious personas and deceive the company.
According to the indictment, GAF was swindled out of more than $1.3 million due to the inflated invoices, with Laakso allegedly retaining hundreds of thousands of dollars. The deception was eventually identified, leading to charges against Laakso; however, an indictment is not a declaration of guilt but merely a formal accusation. Defendants are presumed innocent unless, and until proven guilty in a court of law.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation worked in concert with the U.S. Attorney's Office to uncover the complex fraud. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Darron J. Hubbard and Bradford C. Patrick are representing the United States in the prosecution of this case.
