Westland Woman Sentenced to Prison in Embezzlement Scheme

Lori Ann Caruso, 40, of Westland, Michigan, was sentenced on July 13, 2012, to 33 months in prison for embezzling over $600,000 from her employer, United States Attorney Barbara L. McQuade announced today.

McQuade was joined in the announcement by FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Edward Hanko of the Detroit Division.

Sentencing was imposed before U.S. District Judge Arthur Tarnow. In addition to the prison sentence, Judge Tarnow ordered Caruso to pay restitution and attend gambling therapy while in prison.

Caruso was employed with International Door Company and American Industrial Door, two small businesses in Canton, Michigan. Both were owned and operated by the same individuals.

According to court documents, Caruso used her position in the company’s payroll department to wire approximately $384,400 from the company’s bank account to her personal account between April 2010 and March 2011 when her actions were uncovered. She did this through 58 bank wires ranging between $3,000 and $8,000. Between May 2007 and May 2011, Caruso used various credit cards issued to other employees of the company to charge approximately $273,273 for her personal use.

Caruso and her attorney addressed Judge Tarnow at the sentencing. They blamed her gambling addiction for her illegal activities. The owner of the companies also spoke during the court proceedings. He explained to the court that his company suffered tremendously and was put on the brink of going out of business as a result of the defendant’s actions. He stated that his credit rating was downgraded by the banks and that he had to lay off several of his 45 employees.

The investigation of this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Abed Hammoud.