PITTSBURGH - A resident of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of wire fraud, damaging a computer and engaging in an unlawful monetary transaction, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced today.
The thirteen-count indictment, returned on Oct. 27, named William Simon Sullivan, Jr., 42, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, as the sole defendant.
According to the indictment, Sullivan worked as a consultant for a payroll services company located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania that provides clients with various financial services including payroll and tax escrow processing services. From Jan. 12, 2013, and continuing to Jan. 24, 2014, Sullivan executed a scheme to defraud the payroll company and its clients. Using his position as a consultant to the payroll company and his remote access to the payroll company’s computer network, Sullivan fraudulently altered the payroll company’s daily computer files and caused over $350,000 to be transferred via ACH transfers from bank accounts of the payroll company and its clients to Sullivan’s personal bank accounts, without the knowledge, approval or authorization of the payroll company or its clients. Sullivan also engaged in an unlawful monetary transaction when he withdrew funds in the amount of $21,615.53 from his bank account and purchased a 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee.
Sullivan faces a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment and a fine of $250,000 for each of the seven counts charging him with wire fraud; a maximum sentence of ten years imprisonment and a fine of $250,000 for each of the five counts charging him with damaging a computer; and a maximum sentence of ten years imprisonment and a fine of $250,000 for the one count charging him with engaging in a monetary transaction. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Mary McKeen Houghton is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
