This story was initially revealed on MyNorthwest.com
A person who used to work in tech in Seattle was sentenced to jail for facilitating three separate fraud schemes — involving work, the pandemic and his love life.
Westcott Francis-Curley, 31, will spend three years in jail and should pay almost $700,000 in restitution after being discovered responsible of two counts of wire fraud and one depend of aggravated identification theft, introduced the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington Friday.
“Mr. Francis-Curley’s fraud spiral stemmed from greed,” Appearing U.S. Legal professional Miller mentioned by way of the discharge. “After his employer found his theft, he stole from a program designed to maintain small companies afloat through the pandemic. And when these proceeds have been gone, he dedicated identification theft in opposition to his former romantic associate. This sentence is a vital step to interrupt the cycle of fraud.”
Former Seattle tech employee begins scheme in 2023
Francis-Curley has been in custody since March 2024, following an indictment in August 2023.
The legal professional’s workplace, citing data filed within the case, acknowledged Francis-Curley began his first scheme in 2019 when he embezzled cash from his former employer by misusing cloud computing sources and accounts he had entry to as an worker.
He used employer funds and his worker authorization to buy cloud computing sources after which promote or lease them again to the corporate, paying himself with firm cash — acquiring greater than $550,000.
Together with his half million, Francis-Curley went on journeys utilizing non-public jets, stayed in luxurious accommodations and paid for a penthouse at Seattle’s Harbor Steps residence advanced.
The legal professional’s workplace mentioned that even after he was caught, he emailed customer support and company executives to attempt to get one other half-million {dollars}.
Cash meant for small companies stolen
In 2020, Francis-Curley struck once more, this time defrauding the COVID-19 help Paycheck Safety Program that was designed to assist small companies through the pandemic. Utilizing pretend firms, he obtained almost $100,000 — taking cash from small companies in want.
His newest scheme in October 2022 gained him one other $1,000. He obtained a bank card within the identify of his former important different and officers mentioned the unpaid invoice continues to affect the sufferer.
“He had a snug life and a profitable job, however that wasn’t sufficient,” Assistant United States Legal professional David T. Martin wrote in asking for a three-year sentence. “Leveraging a little bit of Google analysis and the belief of his employer, Francis-Curley — in his personal phrases — ‘discovered a solution to make as a lot cash as’ he wished. Inside weeks of commencing the scheme, he was residing massive: non-public jets, luxurious accommodations, money presents to family and friends, month-to-month bank card payments approaching six figures — the record goes on. In two months, he went from paying himself $13,000, to a quarter-million {dollars}, to — he hoped — a half-million {dollars}. Solely getting caught stopped that unabashed escalation.”
The legal professional’s workplace mentioned the $689,675 in restitution will go to Francis-Curley’s former employer, the Small Enterprise Administration and the individual whose identification he used for bank card fraud.
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