Finance manager for Great Falls construction company admits embezzlement scheme

GREAT FALLS – The finance manager of a Great Falls construction company today admitted to fraud in a scheme in which she falsified invoices to steal more than $500,000 from a client for the construction of a residence, Acting U.S. Attorney Leif M. Johnson said.

Lynn Bapp Tempel, 60, pleaded guilty to wire fraud. Tempel faces a maximum 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.  A plea agreement filed in the case calls for Tempel to be responsible for complete restitution, which is estimated at $519,524.

Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. Chief Judge Morris set sentencing for Feb. 17, 2022. Tempel was released pending further proceedings.

The government alleged in court documents that Tempel managed the finances of William Tempel Construction, which entered into a contract to build a residence for a client. Beginning in May 2013, subcontractors submitted invoices directly to William Tempel Construction. Tempel provided the client invoices in which she had fraudulently inflated the amount of payment required. William Tempel Construction received approximately $4.41 million from the client for the construction of the residence. The investigation determined that Tempel falsified, altered and inflated about 153 subcontractor invoices.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan G. Weldon is prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the FBI and the Great Falls Police Department.

XXX