Development Company’s Bookkeeper Charged with Embezzling Nearly $900,000 and Lying on Tax Forms
| U.S. Attorney’s Office October 29, 2009 |
BIRMINGHAM—A federal grand jury today indicted a Woodstock woman on charges she embezzled close to $900,000 from a development company where she worked as a manager and bookkeeper, U.S. Attorney Joyce White Vance announced jointly with FBI Special Agent in Charge Patrick Maley, U.S. Postal Inspector in Charge Martin D. Phanco and IRS Special Agent in Charge, Criminal Investigations, Reginael D. McDaniel.
The 14-count indictment, filed in U.S. District Court, charges DAPHNE MILLER BROOKS, 50, with mail fraud, securities fraud and under-reporting income on federal income tax forms. Count 14 seeks forfeiture from Brooks of $878,480.
The indictment centers around charges that Brooks, while working as a manager and bookkeeper for Equity Development Corporation, a subsidiary of McDonald Management, Inc., embezzled the $878,480 from the company.
Counts one through six charge mail fraud violations through unauthorized credit card payments mailed to various companies.
Counts seven through 11 charge Brooks committed securities fraud between 2004 and 2008, by forging checks of Equity Development Corporation and depositing the checks into an account at Wachovia (formerly SouthTrust) Bank.
Counts 12 and 13 charge Brooks with willfully filing false income tax returns in 2007 and 2008 that under-reported her income by a combined $227,857.
“White collar crime is every bit as damaging to our community as violent and drug crimes,” Vance said. “This indictment signals this office’s ongoing commitment to investigating white collar fraud.”
Vance thanked investigators from the FBI, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the IRS for their work that helped bring this case to court. Assistant U.S. Attorney Frank M. Salter will prosecute the case on behalf of the United States.
Members of the public are reminded that the indictment contains only charges. A defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government’s burden to prove a defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
