Guilty Plea in Embezzlement Case (Alpha Tau Omega)

[Zillini]

Good grief! I find this absolutely mind boggling. I hope this doesn't come across as blaming the victims, but how does someone steal almost a million dollars and nobody notices? Wasn't there any sort of internal audits or oversights in place? We have to account for every last cent that comes in and goes out.

[banditone]

That total is amazing. So blatant of him to think that would go unnoticed. Or maybe he didn't care... Who knows.

[exlurker]

Originally Posted by Zillini

Good grief! I find this absolutely mind boggling. I hope this doesn't come across as blaming the victims, but how does someone steal almost a million dollars and nobody notices? Wasn't there any sort of internal audits or oversights in place? We have to account for every last cent spent that comes in and goes out.

Hi Zillini: well, I don't know exactly how it was done, but a press release about the indictment -- this was long before the guilty plea -- has a general statement alleging that he used a real estate deal and other tactics to help get the money.

See:
http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/alm/Press/...nt_lawing.html

[Zillini]

Originally Posted by exlurker

Hi Zillini: well, I don't know exactly how it was done, but a press release about the indictment -- this was long before the guilty plea -- has a general statement alleging that he used a real estate deal and other tactics to help get the money.

See:
http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/alm/Press/...nt_lawing.html

Thanks for the link. It was very interesting.

From the above link:

The indictment further alleges that Lawing devised and implemented a series of lulling tactics designed to conceal the fraternity’s increasingly depleted funds. These tactics first included false assurances to other fraternity board members that the initial proceeds from the sale of the property had been prudently invested in a CD and a money market account. Later, Lawing allegedly falsely assured other members of the Board that a “nest egg” had been created in the form of a fraternity trust with the assistance of a local Auburn, Alabama attorney.

Interesting. I guess the lesson here is always check the bank records and never take someone's word for it.

The indictment also charges that Lawing failed to report this embezzled income on his and his wife’s 2002 and 2003 Federal Income Tax Returns.

LOL! Al Capone was busted on tax evasion charges too. I just have this hilarious mental picture of someone reporting $930,000 of embezzlement income on their tax returns. I don't think they issue W-2's for that.