Bookkeeper and Sister Sentenced to Federal Prison for Embezzling $1.5M from Florence County Business

FLORENCE, S.C. — Margaret Ward Heilman, 66, of Darlington County and Katherine Ward Gray, 60, of Florence County, were sentenced to federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

Evidence presented to the court showed that Heilman was the bookkeeper for a business in Florence County. As bookkeeper, she had access to the business’s bank accounts and had signature authority. Beginning in 2014, Heilman began to write checks to herself and others, to include her sister, Gray, for personal expenses. When Heilman wrote the checks to herself, and others, she made them look like legitimate business expenses on the business’s general ledger.

Through the course of the scheme, Heilman defrauded the company out of $1.5 million.

United States District Judge Joseph Dawson, III sentenced Heilman to 20 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision.  Heilman was also ordered to pay $1.5 million in restitution. Gray was sentenced to seven months in imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision.  Gray was ordered to pay $234,131.82 in restitution. There is no parole in the federal system.

This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service and the Florence County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy F. Bower is prosecuting the case.

###