Ohio Man Pleads Guilty to Role in $3.7M Embezzlement Scheme

CLEVELAND - A 68-year-old man has pleaded guilty to his role in leading a conspiracy to obtain millions of dollars from his employer.

Barry Anderson, of Findlay, Ohio, pleaded guilty to the following charges:

• Conspiracy to Commit Mail Fraud
• Mail Fraud

According to documents and evidence presented in court, Anderson was a 20-plus year employee with a multinational company specializing in industrial explosives and technical and blasting services, who served in various roles throughout the years. In his role as regional president, Anderson embezzled approximately $400,000 through a fraudulent invoice scheme. Anderson coordinated with Gregory Shuey, the owner of a backhoe and dump truck business, to falsify 373 invoices from 2016 to 2023. Anderson directed the business owner either to greatly inflate the invoices or create fake invoices for services that were never performed. Anderson then paid these invoices on behalf of his employer to Shuey's business. Shuey then deposited the checks into a bank account that he controlled. From there, he gave Anderson a 50 percent cut of the fraudulently obtained funds as part of their arrangement. Anderson's employer paid approximately $2,432,844 in fraudulent invoices to Shuey's business.

In addition to Anderson's fraudulent invoice scheme, he also caused his employer to make lease payments to himself and others under false and fraudulent pretenses. Anderson and his confederates created limited liability companies (LLC)s which they owned and controlled. Through the LLCs, they purchased properties which they then leased to Anderson's employer. Anderson caused his employer to enter into lease agreements under false pretenses by concealing the fact that he and his confederates were benefitting financially from the deals. From 2014 to 2023, Anderson was linked to 34 invoices seeking rental payments from his employer, totaling approximately $954,330.

Anderson's sentencing date is yet to be scheduled. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The investigation leading to the charges was conducted by the FBI Cleveland Division.

Assistant United States Attorney Megan R. Miller for the Northern District of Ohio leads the prosecution.