In a recent federal court proceeding in Philadelphia, Kimberly Lawson, 44, has been sentenced to five years in prison after pleading guilty to defrauding her employer and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for significant sums. According to information from court documents obtained by the U.S. Attorney's Office, the total fraud loss attributed to Lawson amounted to over $273,000. Her criminal activities included unauthorized use of her employer’s identity, embezzling company funds, and fraudulent applications for federal loans.
While working as the office manager at an electrical contracting company, Lawson took advantage of her position, being reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office, to mislabel entries in the firm’s accounting software. These actions gave her the ability to divert funds to external accounts she controlled, including through unauthorized electronic transfers. Employing a signature stamp without authorization, Lawson managed to bypass procedural safeguards and misappropriate approximately $250,000 from her employer.
Lawson’s actions extended beyond workplace embezzlement. She submitted multiple applications for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) under various names, including those of her relatives, and obtained $23,000 in government loans. Court filings state that she claimed to own and operate businesses that did not exist—representations identified as central to the government’s fraud case against her.
According to the press release, Lawson had previously faced similar charges in 2012 for defrauding another employer of over $293,000, resulting in a 21-month prison sentence. United States Attorney David Metcalf commented on the case, reflecting on Lawson's history with financial fraud: "Kimberly Lawson’s greed is her downfall," and added "This is now the second time that she’s being sentenced for stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from an employer — and this go-round, she decided to defraud the federal government, as well."
The FBI, in collaboration with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, spearheaded the investigation. Assistant Special Agent in Charge Dave Carter highlighted the gravity of Lawson’s conduct and the resolve of law enforcement: "Through a multitude of deceptions and manipulations, Ms. Lawson stole from her employer and from the United States in the pursuit of her own personal gain," he told the U.S. Attorney's Office.
