Tammy Barcus, a 56-year-old resident of Berlin, Maryland, has pleaded guilty to wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and tax evasion after admitting to embezzling more than $1.7 million from her former employer, an Ocean City-based home builder.
The announcement was made by Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, along with Special Agent in Charge Kareem Carter of the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Washington D.C. Field Office.
According to court documents and her plea agreement, Barcus served as an office manager and bookkeeper for the company. She admitted to forging a business owner’s signature on at least 500 business checks over several years and depositing those funds into accounts she controlled. The embezzlement took place between 2016 and 2024.
Barcus used her position of trust within the company to access payment systems and accounting records. "She worked with a high degree of independence," according to information released by prosecutors.
To conceal her actions from both her employer and federal authorities, Barcus made false entries in the company’s books and hid the illicit income from the IRS. Prosecutors said she also commingled stolen funds into personal bank accounts.
Barcus faces up to 20 years in federal prison for wire fraud, five years for tax evasion, and a mandatory two-year consecutive sentence for aggravated identity theft. Sentencing is scheduled before Judge Maddox on February 9, 2026.
"U.S. Attorney Hayes commended IRS-CI for its work in the investigation." The prosecution team includes Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Murphy and Assistant U.S. Attorney Harry Gruber; Paralegal Specialists Joanna B.N. Huber and Shelbe Mascaro provided assistance.
For additional information about reporting fraud or learning more about priorities of the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, resources are available at justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
