Satsuma Woman Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for Embezzlment

MOBILE, AL – A Satsuma woman was sentenced this week to two years in prison for stealing money from her former employer.

According to court documents, Angela Clifton, 43, was the chief financial officer for a manufacturing company in Satsuma.  In this role, Clifton had authorization to use multiple corporate credit cards for legitimate business expenses, and she was also in charge of the company’s payroll and 401k plan. 
 
In 2018, the company discovered that Clifton, then the company’s Controller, had made over $25,000 worth of Amazon purchases for personal using corporate credit cards.  None of these purchases were legitimate business expenses.  Prior to her resignation, Clifton paid some of this money back to the company.  However, after her resignation, an audit was conducted and the company discovered that Clifton was not only making personal purchases with the corporate credit cards, but also fraudulently receiving 401k matches from the company when she was not contributing to her plan, and was issuing to herself unauthorized paychecks and bonuses.   In total, the company discovered that Clifton abused her role as Controller and fraudulently obtained over $200,000 in money and personal items between 2012 and 2018.

Clifton pleaded guilty to three counts of wire fraud.  At her sentencing hearing, Clifton testified and contested the restitution amount claimed by the company.   The current Director of Finance for the company also testified as to the restitution amount.   Senior Judge Callie V.S. Granade will determine the final restitution owed.  The company’s CEO explained to the Court that Clifton’s actions not only damaged the company financially, but also severely damaged the culture of trust that once existed in his small business.
   
Clifton will serve 24 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release.  She will also be ordered to pay full restitution to the victim company.
  
This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service Office in Mobile. 

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Bodnar and Marjorie Vincent-Tripp prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.