Former Law Firm Executive Sentenced for Embezzling over $230,000 from Firm

ATLANTA - Mary Suzanne Creach has been sentenced to federal prison for wire fraud as part of her scheme to steal over $230,000 from her former employer, an Atlanta-based law firm.  

“Even though well-paid as the Executive Director of her firm, Creach used her position to embezzle money routinely and to pad her comfortable lifestyle,” said U. S. Attorney John Horn. “Stealing is illegal whether it’s from someone's home or from your employer, and in this instance a law firm lost several hundred thousand dollars due to the actions of an unscrupulous senior employee.”

“This case is another unfortunate example of an individual who violated her position of trust to illegally enrich herself,” said Malcolm D. Wiley, Sr., Acting Special Agent in Charge of the United States Secret Service, Atlanta Field Office. “The United States Secret Service will continue to collaborate with its law enforcement partners to target and arrest individuals who commit these types of crimes.”

According to U.S. Attorney Horn, the charges and other information presented in court: From August 2013 until June 2015, Creach was the law firm’s Executive Director, and part of her responsibilities were managing the firm's financial affairs, including employee payroll. Despite being paid a considerable salary well in excess of six-figures, Creach used her authority to initiate unauthorized bank transfers and payroll adjustments that almost doubled what she earned in salary.

At the beginning of her scheme, Creach initiated fraudulent transfers and payroll adjustments in the $1,000 to $3,000 range. She grew considerably bolder over time, and towards the end of the scheme, she was routinely authorizing transfers to herself in the $6,000 to $7,000 range, with some transfers well over $10,000. By the time her theft was discovered by the firm, she had stolen $232,933.40.

Mary Suzanne Creach, 53, of Dunwoody, Georgia, has been sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Thomas W. Thrash, to one year, six months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $232,933.40.  Creach pleaded guilty on March 28, 2016.

This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service.

Assistant United States Attorney Lynsey M. Barron prosecuted the case.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.  The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.