Major assests, is that akin to a major award?
Posted on 06/11/2004 4:33:07 AM PDT by Arrowhead1952
She's going to prison for a year and a half
By Steven Kreytak
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Friday, June 11, 2004
With one hand in her pocket and the other gripping a four-pronged cane, the bespectacled, 66-year-old former secretary looked up at the federal judge Thursday and apologized.
Mary Ilene Guthrie made no mention of what prompted her to make $329,435 in charges on her boss's credit card over four years. The bulk of the charges were made at the QVC home shopping network, according to court documents, but Guthrie offered no explanation for what she bought.
Guthrie simply noted that she had never been in criminal trouble before being charged in January and told U.S. District Judge Lee Yeakel: "I am going to try to do the best I can to undo it."
Yeakel sentenced Guthrie to a year and a half in federal prison for income tax fraud and false statements in connection with the credit card scheme. He chided her for abusing her employer's trust.
Guthrie was the office manager at Austin highway construction contractor J.D. Abrams LP from 1988 to 2000. She served as executive secretary for company Chairman J.D. Abrams and was in charge of managing the credit card that Abrams used for personal and business expenses, court documents show.
In addition to the spending on items from QVC, court documents show that she also used the credit card at Boomerz bar in Oak Hill, at convenience stores and gas stations, and at various department stores between 1996 and 2000.
Jon Bartine, a longtime co-worker of Guthrie's, said after the sentencing that Guthrie was highly trusted by Abrams, who put her in charge of his personal and company affairs.
Several years ago, when employees learned of Guthrie's crime, a mix of vindictiveness and sadness washed over the company's Congress Avenue offices, Bartine said.
"Our company was built on trust," he said outside court. "This just busted the trust."
Guthrie, through her lawyer, declined to comment as she left the courthouse.
Abrams founded the company in El Paso in 1966 and later moved it to Austin. It bid on major highway contracts and currently is heading the construction of the interchange at Interstate 35 and Ben White Boulevard in South Austin.
Guthrie was caught when a Boomerz employee told an unidentified J.D. Abrams employee that Guthrie and her husband had been running up a bar tab on the corporate card, Bartine said. She pleaded guilty in January.
It is unclear what, specifically, Guthrie bought at the other places, but her defense lawyer said it was a string of small items.
"She has no major assets to show for it," Assistant Federal Public Defender Horatio Aldredge said.
Aldredge argued for Yeakel to sentence Guthrie at the low end of the 18-to-24-month federal sentencing guidelines, noting that unlike most white-collar criminals, she accepted respon- sibility for her crimes.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle McElroy agreed that "once she realized that she had made a horrible mistake, she did what she could to accept responsibility."
Yeakel also ordered Guthrie to pay $354,158 in restitution and $105,289 to the IRS.
He agreed to allow her to remain free on bail until she is committed by the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.
Must be a heluva business that can let that much $$ go unnoticed over a 4 year period...
well, almost. She did eventually get caught.
It was part of her compensation package.
Major assests, is that akin to a major award?
Does this guy ever check his credit card statements?
"Honey, there's a charge on my company card I don't understand, did you buy a garnet encrusted, 1.05 cwt, filligree white gold band ring on my company credit card? From QVC? 'Cause I don't remember ever buying it."
But she didn't make a horrible mistake. She made dozens of them over the course of years. Getting caught isn't the same thing as realizing a mistake.
I believe, but could be wrong, that there is a federal prison, "right down the road", in Three Rivers, TX. At least she'll be close..
Just goes to show that this guy is making money hand over fist. I wonder what their profit margin on highway contracts is?
Common sense, review the statement from time to time.
Oversight overlooked.
If she is using a walker she will be sent to a slammer for elder, disabled felons, pardon me, mistake makers.
Trust but verify.
Catchy!
Looks like his tax preparer should have caught it to me.
I wonder how many George Foreman grills that money bought.
Catchy!
I'll say!
***Just goes to show that this guy is making money hand over fist. I wonder what their profit margin on highway contracts is?***
Texas must have the same liberal pay rate for road repair companies as New York State.
I am betting they are using immigrant labor with no benefits and paying them under the table.
Oversight overlooked.
Wonder what an auditor would find if they looked at all the books of this company? That is a lot of money to be missing in any company without someone noticing. Guess this was a case of the fox guarding the chickenhouse.
Seinfeld reference for the day:
Elaine: Well, as you can see the comforter I expensed is actually the Aristotle goose down tunic. So what do you think?
Roger: Another bulls eye.
Elaine: Well Mr. Ipswitch since everyone of my expenses are obviously for a legitimate business purpose.
[ Elaine turns on water pic to water plants.]
Roger: I just need to see the sable hat you purchased yesterday.
Elaine: The hat? Why do you need to see the hat?
Roger: Because it costs eight-thousand dollars.
6,335 George Foreman Baby George Rotisserie Ovens
4,560 George Foreman 8-in-1 Multi-Function Toaster Oven/Broilers
10,205 George Foreman Lean Mean Fat Reducing Roaster Ovens
3,689 George Foreman Jumbo Grills & Juiceman Jr. Juice Extractors
6,005 George Foreman Nonstick Outdoor Portable Propane Grills
11,620 George Foreman "The Champ" Grills with Bun Warmers
4,714 George Foreman Wheel-it and Grill-it Portable BBQ Gas Grills (while supplies last!)
I'm sure George - and his sons, George, George, George, George, and George - would thank you very much...
:^)
Considering that it can take years to construct just a few miles, probably pretty high.
LOL! That or a bowling alley!
Man: "Fa-gee-lee. Must be Italian."
Woman: "I think it's pronounced 'fragile'."
You mean how much Diamonique that money bought.
In all, Guthrie charged $496,685 for personal expenses and reimbursed Abrams $167,250, the IRS says.
The IRS says Guthrie spent $207,127 at QVC, $68,356 at the Boomerz Night Club in Austin, $200,696 at convenience stores and gas stations and $20,506 at various department stores.
That was her job. He trusted her because she was an old lady.
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