|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Charles A. Richardson Charged with Wire Fraud and Money Laundering
PITTSBURGH, Pa. — A federal grand jury in Pittsburgh has indicted Charles A. Richardson, 45, of Pittsburgh, on nine counts of wire fraud and money laundering, alleging that he embezzled nearly $1 million from his former employer, The Heinz Endowments, a prominent philanthropic foundation. The announcement was made by Acting U.S. Attorney Troy Rivetti for the Western District of Pennsylvania.
Alleged Scheme
According to the indictment, Richardson was employed as an information technology professional with The Heinz Endowments from 2016 to 2024. During that time, he allegedly orchestrated a scheme to defraud the foundation by:
- Creating and operating a shell corporation under his control
- Submitting fraudulent invoices for IT work that was either never performed or was performed by other vendors
- Directing foundation payments to the shell company for personal enrichment
The alleged fraud resulted in nearly $1 million in losses to the organization.
Legal Consequences
If convicted, Richardson faces:
- A maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for each count
- A fine of up to $250,000, or twice the financial gain or loss, whichever is greater
- Additional penalties under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, which consider the offense’s severity and the defendant’s criminal history
Investigation and Prosecution
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey R. Bengel.
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office.
Presumption of Innocence
It is important to note that an indictment is only an allegation. Charles A. Richardson is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
