A Greensboro, North Carolina resident, Rhonda Rochelle Canidate, was sentenced to 84 months in prison by United States District Judge Kelli M. Neary on April 15, 2025, for wire fraud and money laundering. The actions stemmed from a scheme to embezzle funds from her employer between 2021 and 2022. The announcement was made by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.
Acting United States Attorney John C. Gurganus detailed that Canidate, 49, was employed as an accounting specialist at Henry Molded Products Company in Lebanon, Pennsylvania. From October 2021 to June 2022, she made false payment entries for former employees in the company’s payroll software. This led to direct deposit payments from the company's bank account being transferred to Canidate's accounts, using the former employees' names. This not only affected Henry Molded financially but also caused tax overpayment issues for the former employees.
Yury Kruty, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation, Philadelphia Field Office, commented on the complexity of financial fraud. "The role of IRS Criminal Investigation becomes even more important in embezzlement and fraud cases due to the complex financial transactions that can take time to unravel," Kruty stated. "The federal tax laws are normally violated in these cases which can add to additional jail time. As we often see, the victims are not only the taxpayers, but also the individuals and entities who suffer the financial harm."
In addition to her prison sentence, Judge Neary ordered Canidate to pay restitution totaling $480,033.12.
The case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service, and Assistant United States Attorney David C. Williams prosecuted the case.