A Pittsburgh resident has been indicted on charges of wire fraud and money laundering. Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced the indictment, which was returned by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh.
The defendant, Charles A. Richardson, aged 45, is accused of embezzling nearly $1 million from his employer, The Heinz Endowments. According to the indictment, Richardson used a shell corporation under his control and submitted fraudulent invoices for work that was either not performed or completed by other vendors.
Richardson worked as an information technology professional at the Pittsburgh-based philanthropic foundation from 2016 to 2024. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the pecuniary gain associated with the offense. The actual sentence would depend on the seriousness of the offenses and Richardson's prior criminal history.
Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey R. Bengel is leading the prosecution for this case. The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation along with the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office.
It is important to note that an indictment is merely an accusation, and Richardson is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
