Études de cas
J.S. Held consolide son expertise en matière de litiges financiers dans le domaine du droit de la famille grâce à l'acquisition de CMM, LLP
En savoir plusJ.S. Held was engaged by outside counsel for the Atlanta Hawks following the discovery of suspected financial misconduct involving a former senior executive within the organization's finance department. Initial internal findings suggested that corporate financial systems may have been misused over an extended period, raising concerns regarding the magnitude of potential losses, possible accomplices, the adequacy of internal controls, and the organization's ability to pursue insurance recovery and cooperate with law enforcement.
Given the seriousness of the allegations, outside counsel engaged J.S. Held to conduct a comprehensive internal investigation to determine whether wrongdoing had occurred, identify the mechanisms by which it was carried out, quantify resulting financial losses, and support parallel insurance and criminal proceedings. To meet these objectives, we undertook a wide-ranging forensic and investigative effort that included the following:
J.S. Held, in collaboration with outside counsel, conducted a comprehensive internal investigation to identify the nature, duration, and financial impact of any misconduct. Our engagement also included supporting the organization's insurance recovery efforts and assisting federal law enforcement in the criminal investigation and prosecution.
Throughout the investigation, we obtained, reviewed, and analyzed voluminous financial records, including more than eight years of American Express corporate credit card data and extensive employee expense reimbursement records. Our experts examined over 2,900 corporate credit card transactions across multiple accounts, applying data analytics to identify spending patterns, anomalies, and transactions indicative of non-business activity.
These findings were evaluated in conjunction with employee expense reports, travel itineraries, and information developed through witness interviews. By integrating these data sources, our team reconstructed the mechanics of the scheme and quantified the scope of the misconduct over time.
We determined that the former finance department executive embezzled approximately $3.7M over an eight-year period through fraudulent expense reimbursement requests and the misuse of corporate credit cards. Our transactional analysis identified personal expenditures charged to corporate accounts that included approximately $1.8M in apparel and accessories, $560K in travel expenses, and $230K in jewelry, among other non-business purchases. Through documentary evidence, we identified non-business travel to Thailand, the Bahamas, Las Vegas, and Switzerland, among other locations, that were charged to corporate credit cards.
In coordination with counsel, our team assisted with interviews of selected key individuals to gather information relevant to the forensic investigation. Among other things, these interviews helped corroborate documentary evidence, clarify internal policies and controls, and assess whether other individuals may have participated in or facilitated the misconduct.
Leveraging extensive experience with fidelity and commercial crime insurance matters, J.S. Held assisted the organization in preparing and substantiating a detailed Proof of Loss submission. Our team provided forensic accounting support throughout the insurer's claim review process. As a result, within a relatively short timeframe, the organization obtained full coverage for employee theft under its policy, including reimbursement for a significant portion of J.S. Held's professional fees.
Our team also supported counsel and federal law enforcement by organizing, summarizing, and explaining complex financial evidence used in the criminal investigation and prosecution. Through these coordinated efforts, the Department of Justice was able to act expeditiously. Less than six months after the discovery of the theft, the former employee was charged with wire fraud and entered a guilty plea.
The case ultimately resulted in a sentence of 41 months in federal prison, three years of supervised release, and restitution exceeding $3.8M, including certain legal and consulting costs.
Natalie Lewis CPA, CFF, CFE
Vice-président directeur
Economic Damages and Valuations
+1 470 852 4601
[e-mail protégé]
> Fraude
Nos professionnels qualifiés sont notamment des experts-comptables certifiés, des examinateurs certifiés en matière de fraude et des experts certifiés en finances judiciaires qui se spécialisent dans la prévention des fraudes financières, les enquêtes et la conformité réglementaire. Nous sommes sollicités pour fournir des services experts dans des dossiers de fraude directe ou indirecte ou d'allégation de fraude.
> Litiges commerciaux
Notre équipe est sollicitée dans des dossiers impliquant des ruptures de contrat, des interruptions d'activité, des vices de construction, des litiges entre partenaires, de propriété intellectuelle et autres litiges professionnels d'ordre général. Nous évaluons les dommages commerciaux pour des clients de tous les secteurs professionnels et géographiques en vue de produire des analyses et services experts prenant diverses formes d'enquêtes et procédures juridiques.