U.S. Attorney Gerard M. Karam | U.S. Department of Justice
U.S. Attorney Gerard M. Karam | U.S. Department of Justice
Rhonda Rochelle Canidate, 48, of Greensboro, North Carolina, has pleaded guilty to wire fraud and money laundering. The charges stem from a scheme to embezzle funds from her employer between 2021 and 2022. U.S. District Court Judge Christopher C. Conner accepted her plea.
U.S. Attorney Gerard M. Karam stated that Canidate was employed as an accounting specialist at Henry Molded Products Company in Lebanon, Pennsylvania. Between October 2021 and June 2022, she made false payment entries for former employees into the company's payroll software. This led to direct deposit payments being issued from the company’s bank account to accounts controlled by Canidate under the names of these former employees.
The fraudulent activity resulted in a loss of $532,050 for Henry Molded Products Company and caused tax-related issues for the former employees involved. Canidate has agreed to pay restitution according to a schedule set by the court.
The Internal Revenue Service conducted the investigation, with Assistant United States Attorney David C. Williams prosecuting the case.
Under federal law, the maximum combined penalty for these offenses is 30 years in prison, supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. Sentencing will be determined by Judge Conner after reviewing federal sentencing statutes and guidelines.
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