United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Kimberly Lawson, 44, from Philadelphia, has been sentenced to 60 months in prison for embezzling over $250,000 from her employer and $23,000 from the U.S. government. The sentencing by United States District Court Judge Michael M. Baylson includes five years of supervised release and $244,343 in restitution.
In September 2023, Lawson was charged with bank fraud, aggravated identity theft, and wire fraud. She pleaded guilty to all charges a year later. The total fraud loss attributed to Lawson is $273,817.80.
Lawson was employed as an office manager at an electrical contracting company in March 2018. Her role included handling invoices and vendor payments. She used her access to divert company funds to accounts she controlled, which she concealed by falsifying records.
Lawson also attempted to embezzle over $17,000 from her employer’s 401k account, but these transactions were intercepted and canceled. Outside of her employment, Lawson fraudulently applied for $253,874 in Economic Injury Disaster Loans from the SBA. While some applications were denied, she successfully obtained $23,000 in her husband and sister-in-law’s names.
This is not Lawson's first offense; she was previously convicted in 2012 for defrauding a different employer.
“Kimberly Lawson’s greed is her downfall,” stated U.S. Attorney Metcalf. “This is now the second time that she’s being sentenced for stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from an employer — and this go-round, she decided to defraud the federal government, as well. Perhaps today’s longer prison term will prove more impactful than her first. Either way, we won’t rest until criminals like this get the message that we will find and punish financial fraud.”
“Through a multitude of deceptions and manipulations, Ms. Lawson stole from her employer and from the United States in the pursuit of her own personal gain,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Dave Carter of FBI Philadelphia. “This sentencing serves as a reminder that those who exploit their positions for financial profits will be held accountable. I want to thank our FBI personnel and our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their diligent efforts in bringing this defendant to justice.”
This case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Anita Eve.
