Former Bookkeeper Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud

WICHITA, KS—A former bookkeeper for Steckline Communications, Inc., has pleaded guilty to wire fraud as part of an embezzlement scheme, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said.

William H. Nolan, 50, Wichita, Kan., pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. In his plea, he admitted he embezzled from companies whose books he was keeping including LS Media, Steckline Communications, Inc., Mid-America Ag Network, Inc., and Broadcast Technical Associates, LLC. He paid bills for his personal credit cards by issuing checks from his employers’ companies and forging an authorized signature on the checks. He caused electronic fund transfers from his employers’ bank accounts to pay for purchases he and members of his family made.

At sentencing, the government will argue that Nolan should pay more than $2 million in restitution.

Sentencing is set for March 13, 2012. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. Grissom commended the FBI and Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Metzger for their work on the case.