Pompton Lakes bookkeeper admits to wire fraud and tax evasion, U.S. Attorney General says

A Passaic County man pleaded guilty on charges of embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars from clients through his bookkeeping services, officials announced on Wednesday.

Richard Winter, 53, of Pompton Lakes, admitted to counts of wire fraud and tax invasion, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

From January 2016 through December 2019, Winter was employed as the bookkeeper and controller for the companies that fell victim to his schemes. He used this position and his own company, Back Office Pro, LLC, to authorize bank wire transfers to divert funds from his clients to his own bank account.

Winter was able to manipulate one of his victims, that was a New Jersey corporation that managed accounts for a restaurant with locations in New York and Pennsylvania, through altering payment information, such as the bank account number and routing number. He switched the victim's checking account number and routing number to match the information that was on his Back Office Pro business bank account so funds would transfer into his account instead of his client's account.

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Winter authorized approximately 39 fraudulent bank-to-bank wire transactions from the New Jersey company's bank account into his own business checking account, through the falsified invoices. This resulted in Winter embezzling over $225,000 from that company.

Winter then manipulated five other of his clients through diverting vendor payments to his own account through an online portal. He also issued checks payable to "cash" from the victim's companies bank account to his own controlled bank account.

Documents from the U.S. State Attorney's Office show an example of Winter transmitting approximately $3,601.21 from his victim's bank into a back account controlled by the bookkeeper.

U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger credits U.S. Postal Inspection Service in Newark and special agents of IRS-Criminal Investigation for assisting with the case that lead to the guilty plea.

Winter could face a potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for a wire fraud charge. The tax evasion charge carries a maximum potential penalty of five years in prison and a $100,000 fine. The sentencing is scheduled for July 9, 2024.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NJ man admits to using bookkeeper job to steal from clients