Some people in Florida who enjoy Miller or Coors beers may be aware that one of their top executives was convicted for defrauding the Chicago-based company. On May 16, the 60-year-old man received a sentence of 42 months in prison.
In 2016, the former vice president entered a guilty plea for wire fraud. A judge dealt with seven other people involved in the fraud before sentencing him. An assistant U.S. attorney on the case recommended a sentence of 64 months although she conceded that the man had originally informed federal prosecutors of his crime.
According to media reports, the scheme involved the man, along with others, submitting fake invoices for events and promotions that never happened. In all, from 2003 to 2013, they reportedly defrauded the company of more than $8.6 million. The man, who had worked his way through the MillerCoors ranks to reach the office of vice president, apologized for his actions and said he had been caught up in the “rat race.”
This type of fraud is an example of what is often known as white-collar crime. There are several misconceptions that some people have about white-collar crimes. One is that people who are involved it are likely to be treated with leniency. Investigations into white-collar crime are often conducted in a low-key way so that people may be interviewed without realizing they are placing suspicion on themselves or that they are already under suspicion. Therefore, people who find themselves involved in any investigation may want to contact an attorney to find out what their rights are and how they should proceed. White-collar crime can encompass a wide variety of activities including embezzling funds, identity theft, bribery, various types of fraud and more. An attorney may be able to assist clients in a trial or in making a deal with the prosecution.
