Federal prosecutors in Baltimore say a former chief financial officer for a multinational company secretly rerouted her colleagues’ pay and benefits, then lied to immigration officials to keep her own status intact.
The defendant, identified in court papers as 42-year-old Teresa Desy Majo, is accused of using forged documents and doctored executive emails to enrich herself. Prosecutors say the alleged scheme touched payroll systems on both sides of the border in the United States and Canada.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland says Majo, a legal permanent resident from Italy who lives in Annandale, Virginia, is charged with wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and possession of a perjured immigration document. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, she faces up to 20 years in federal prison on the wire fraud count, a mandatory consecutive two-year term for aggravated identity theft, and up to 10 years on the immigration-related charge. FBI Baltimore’s field office assisted with the investigation, according to prosecutors.
Majo previously served as chief financial officer for the North American arm of Officine Maccaferri S.p.A., overseeing U.S. and Canadian subsidiaries. As reported by FOX45 News, the federal filing unsealed Monday lays out the indictment and the allegations against her.
How prosecutors say it unfolded
According to the indictment, the alleged scheme ran from January 2021 through May 2024. Prosecutors say Majo created fake authorization documents and altered emails from company executives so it looked like top brass had signed off on extra compensation and benefits in her favor.
The false paperwork was then submitted to payroll departments at both Maccaferri USA and Maccaferri Canada, according to the court filing announced by federal prosecutors. Authorities also allege that after Majo was fired, she did not disclose her termination to immigration officials and instead submitted a perjured immigration document to keep her status.
Company ties and local footprint
Officine Maccaferri is a global geotechnical engineering firm, and its U.S. operations are organized under Maccaferri Inc., which maintains a North American presence in Maryland. The company’s American operation lists Maccaferri Inc. as the North American office and provides regional contact details. Maccaferri publishes its North American contact information on its U.S. site.
What comes next
An indictment is an accusation, not a verdict, and Majo is presumed innocent while the case moves through federal court. FOX45 News noted that the U.S. Attorney’s Office publicly thanked the FBI for its work on the investigation. Prosecutors will determine upcoming court dates and filings as the case proceeds.
