Baltimore CFO Charged With Wire Fraud

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                            Contact ELIZABETH MORSE

www.justice.gov/usao/md                                                                     at (410) 209-4885

Baltimore, Maryland – Jay Edward Wilkins, age 47, of Stoney Beach, Maryland, was charged with wire fraud in a scheme to defraud his employer of more than $200,000. The criminal complaint was issued on July 6, 2017, and unsealed today upon the arrest of the Wilkins.

The charges were announced by Acting United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Stephen M. Schenning and Special Agent in Charge Gordon B. Johnson of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office.

According to the criminal complaint, Wilkins, had been improperly diverting corporate funds for his own personal use for multiple years. In or about 2012, Wilkins filed for Chapter 13 bankruptcy, citing primarily consumer debts. According to the bankruptcy petition, Wilkins had several pending loans relating to real estate and a boat, as well as more than $30,000 in credit card debt.

Wilkins allegedly diverted more than $200,000 in corporate funds using the identities of three former employees. In one instance, one of the employee whose identity was used had not been an employee for over five years.

Wilkins faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for the wire fraud. His initial appearance is today at 3:15 p.m.

A criminal charge is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by criminal complaint is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.

Acting United States Attorney Stephen M. Schenning commended the FBI for their work in the investigation. Mr. Schenning thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney’s Harry Gruber and Paul Riley, who are prosecuting the case.