Susan Ann Sears, 64, pleaded guilty to wire fraud counts for taking over $765,000 from Shapery Enterprises and around $165,000 from Hope Campbell Realty Inc.
Prosecutors say she attempted to make the payments appear as business expenses by entering"S. Sharpery" as a memo for each payment. A prosecution sentencing memorandum states"S. Sharpery" is one letter removed from the company's CEO's actual last name, Shapery, and Sears"assumed that anyone scrutinizing the Shapery Enterprises bank account would merely glance over the"S. Sharpery" justification and not give it a second thought.
She began working at Hope Campbell Realty Inc, where prosecutors allege she issued unauthorized checks to herself and her family members, and took steps to make the payments appear like legitimate business expenses.