CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Marc Weiss, 48, of Charlotte, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge David C. Keesler today and pleaded guilty to wire fraud, for embezzling approximately $1.6 million from two companies, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Jason Byrne, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Secret Service, Charlotte Field Office and Sheriff Darren Campbell of the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office join U.S. Attorney King in making today’s announcement.
According to filed court documents and today’s plea hearing, 2016 to 2022, Weiss engaged in a scheme to defraud two Mooresville, N.C. companies, where he was employed as a bookkeeper. Over the course of the scheme, Weiss abused his position and access to the companies’ financial accounts to make more than 120 fraudulent transfers totaling $1.6 million from the companies’ accounts into bank accounts under Weiss’s control. To disguise the fraud, Weiss created fake entries in the victim companies’ books and records, categorizing the fraudulent transfers as payments to existing vendors for software development, and advertising and marketing expenses.
As Weiss admitted in court today, he generally used the embezzled funds to pay for personal expenses, including to pay for a luxury apartment in Charlotte, to make payments for high-end vehicles, and to pay for travel and vacations.
Weiss was released on bond following today’s plea hearing. The wire fraud charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A sentencing date for Weiss has not been set.
In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney King thanked the U.S. Secret Service and the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office for their investigation of the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jenny G. Sugar of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte is prosecuting the case.