U.S. Attorney Gerard M. Karam | U.S. Department of Justice
U.S. Attorney Gerard M. Karam | U.S. Department of Justice
SCRANTON - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Lawrence Malachefski, age 39, of Wilkes-Barre, PA, was sentenced on August 26, 2024, by United States District Court Judge Malachy E. Mannion to 30 months’ imprisonment and a three-year term of supervised release for wire fraud.
According to United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, from approximately March 2023 to May 2023, while serving as the financial controller of a Wilkes-Barre-based Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) business, Malachefski embezzled over $1.5 million from his employer. He converted the funds to his own personal use and spent the money primarily on online sports betting websites. At his sentencing, Malachefski was also ordered to pay $1,586,557.45 in restitution to the victim company.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Philadelphia Division and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffery St John.