Leah B. Foley United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts | Department of Justice
A former office manager from Attleboro has pleaded guilty to embezzling more than $400,000 from her employer, a Franklin-based environmental services company. Marie Hobson, 54, entered her plea on October 15, 2025, in federal court in Boston to two counts of wire fraud and one count of filing a false tax return. Sentencing is set for January 22, 2026.
According to court documents, between December 2019 and March 2025, Hobson inflated her payroll by adding approximately $268,046 in fraudulent expense reimbursements. These included claims for uniform costs even though she did not wear a uniform as part of her job. To hide the thefts, she manipulated the company’s accounting software so it appeared she was only receiving her regular salary.
Authorities said Hobson also used a company-issued credit card for personal expenses such as country club memberships, vacations, cruises, timeshares, and costs related to her residence. These unauthorized charges totaled over $105,000.
Hobson further concealed her actions by failing to report the embezzled funds on her federal income tax returns from 2021 through 2024. This resulted in an estimated tax loss of about $81,000.
The charge of wire fraud carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison and three years of supervised release. It also includes possible fines up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss involved, as well as restitution and forfeiture. The charge of filing a false tax return provides for up to three years in prison and one year of supervised release along with similar financial penalties. Sentences will be determined by a federal district court judge according to U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
“U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Thomas E. Demeo, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston made the announcement today.” The Franklin Police Department assisted with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rilwan Adeduntan is prosecuting the case.
