Shasta County-Based “Joined Inc.” CEO Sentenced to 18 Months in Retirement Fund Embezzlement Scheme

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Maurice “Buddy” Shoe, 59, formerly of Palo Cedro, was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment for embezzlement from his employees’ retirement funds, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents, Shoe was the CEO of Joined Inc., a now defunct corporation based in Shasta County that provided student recruiting and retention services to Christian colleges and universities throughout the United States. The company provided a 401(k) retirement benefit plan for its employees. From February through November 2015, Shoe embezzled approximately $124,902.03 from the employee retirement benefit fund, protected under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), by withholding funds from employees’ paychecks for 401(k) contributions, but failing to forward those contributions to the 401(k) plan.  Shoe was also ordered to pay back restitution to the victims of the fraud.

This case is the product of an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor – Employee Benefits Security Administration, San Francisco Regional Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Audrey Hemesath and Kate Lydon are prosecuting the case.