Former Accountant for Hillandale Farms Co. Indicted in $6.8M Embezzlement Scheme

PITTSBURGH, Pa. – The owner of several Pittsburgh-area businesses and former accountant for a nationwide supplier of eggs and related farm products to retail stores has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of fraud conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy and tax fraud, Acting United States Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman announced today.

The six-count Indictment charges Jonathan A. Weston, 57, of Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, with one count of fraud conspiracy, one count of money laundering conspiracy, two counts of willful failure to file tax returns, and two counts of filing false income tax returns. The indictment was returned under seal on May 25 and unsealed today following Weston’s arrest.

According to the Indictment, from October 2005 to January 2019, Weston, a former employee of Hillandale Farms Co. located in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, engaged in a scheme with a person known as VP, to embezzle approximately $6.8 million dollars from Hillandale Farms, and then launder the stolen money through businesses they both controlled, purchase collectible cars and real estate, and engage in lavish personal expenditures. In addition, the indictment alleges that in calendar years 2015 and 2018 Weston failed to file tax returns, and in tax years 2016 and 2017 Weston filed false returns.

The law provides for a maximum total sentence of 58 years in prison and a fine of $2,550,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant United States Attorney Gregory C. Melucci is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment in this case.

An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.