Estudios de caso
J.S. Held amplía su experiencia en disputas financieras al ámbito del derecho de familia con la adquisición de CMM, LLP
LEER MÁSJ.S. Held was engaged by outside counsel for the Atlanta Hawks following the discovery of suspected financial misconduct involving a former senior executive within the organization's finance department. Initial internal findings suggested that corporate financial systems may have been misused over an extended period, raising concerns regarding the magnitude of potential losses, possible accomplices, the adequacy of internal controls, and the organization's ability to pursue insurance recovery and cooperate with law enforcement.
Given the seriousness of the allegations, outside counsel engaged J.S. Held to conduct a comprehensive internal investigation to determine whether wrongdoing had occurred, identify the mechanisms by which it was carried out, quantify resulting financial losses, and support parallel insurance and criminal proceedings. To meet these objectives, we undertook a wide-ranging forensic and investigative effort that included the following:
J.S. Held, in collaboration with outside counsel, conducted a comprehensive internal investigation to identify the nature, duration, and financial impact of any misconduct. Our engagement also included supporting the organization's insurance recovery efforts and assisting federal law enforcement in the criminal investigation and prosecution.
Throughout the investigation, we obtained, reviewed, and analyzed voluminous financial records, including more than eight years of American Express corporate credit card data and extensive employee expense reimbursement records. Our experts examined over 2,900 corporate credit card transactions across multiple accounts, applying data analytics to identify spending patterns, anomalies, and transactions indicative of non-business activity.
These findings were evaluated in conjunction with employee expense reports, travel itineraries, and information developed through witness interviews. By integrating these data sources, our team reconstructed the mechanics of the scheme and quantified the scope of the misconduct over time.
We determined that the former finance department executive embezzled approximately $3.7M over an eight-year period through fraudulent expense reimbursement requests and the misuse of corporate credit cards. Our transactional analysis identified personal expenditures charged to corporate accounts that included approximately $1.8M in apparel and accessories, $560K in travel expenses, and $230K in jewelry, among other non-business purchases. Through documentary evidence, we identified non-business travel to Thailand, the Bahamas, Las Vegas, and Switzerland, among other locations, that were charged to corporate credit cards.
In coordination with counsel, our team assisted with interviews of selected key individuals to gather information relevant to the forensic investigation. Among other things, these interviews helped corroborate documentary evidence, clarify internal policies and controls, and assess whether other individuals may have participated in or facilitated the misconduct.
Leveraging extensive experience with fidelity and commercial crime insurance matters, J.S. Held assisted the organization in preparing and substantiating a detailed Proof of Loss submission. Our team provided forensic accounting support throughout the insurer's claim review process. As a result, within a relatively short timeframe, the organization obtained full coverage for employee theft under its policy, including reimbursement for a significant portion of J.S. Held's professional fees.
Our team also supported counsel and federal law enforcement by organizing, summarizing, and explaining complex financial evidence used in the criminal investigation and prosecution. Through these coordinated efforts, the Department of Justice was able to act expeditiously. Less than six months after the discovery of the theft, the former employee was charged with wire fraud and entered a guilty plea.
The case ultimately resulted in a sentence of 41 months in federal prison, three years of supervised release, and restitution exceeding $3.8M, including certain legal and consulting costs.
Natalie Lewis CPA, CFF, CFE
Vicepresidente ejecutivo
Economic Damages and Valuations
+1 470 852 4601
[email protected]
> Fraude
Nuestros profesionales altamente calificados incluyen contadores públicos certificados, examinadores de fraude certificados y expertos en finanzas forenses certificados que se especializan en la prevención de fraude financiero, investigaciones y cumplimiento normativo. Nos contratan para prestar servicios especializados en cuestiones relacionadas con actividad fraudulenta de primeras y terceras partes, así como también denuncias de fraude.
> Litigios comerciales
Nuestro equipo es contratado en casos que involucran incumplimiento de contrato, interrupción del negocio, defectos de construcción, disputas de asociación, disputas de propiedad intelectual y otros litigios comerciales generales. Evaluamos daños comerciales para clientes de todos los sectores y geografías para entregar análisis y servicios expertos en todas las formas de investigación y procedimientos judiciales.