BIRMINGHAM -- A Moody man pleaded guilty this week in federal court to one count of wire fraud as part of his scheme to steal $41,098 from his employer, Temple Emanu-el in Birmingham, announced First Assistant United States Attorney Robert Posey and FBI Special Agent in Charge Roger C. Stanton.
CHARLES M. COLLINS, 66, entered his guilty plea before U.S. District Judge Abdul Kallon. His sentencing is scheduled Dec. 4.
Collins served as the accounting manager for Temple Emanu-el from June 2008 to November 2013, when his scheme was discovered. In his plea agreement with prosecutors, Collins admitted that he took advantage of that position to send unauthorized wire transfers from a local bank into his own personal bank accounts. Collins agreed to forfeit $41,098 to the government as proceeds of illegal activity.
The maximum penalty for wire fraud is 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The FBI investigated the case, which Assistant U.S. Attorney Xavier O. Carter Sr. is prosecuting.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
