https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/pr/northborough-man-arrested-wire-fraud-and-money-laundering-after-embezzling-non-profit

BOSTON – A Northborough man was arrested today for allegedly embezzling approximately $370,000 from a non-profit organization in Sturbridge.

Kyriakos Kapiris, a/k/a Rick Kapiris, 35, was indicted on two counts of wire fraud and one count of money laundering. Kapiris was released on conditions following an initial appearance this afternoon before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge David H. Hennessy.

According to charging documents, from April 2015 to May 2020, Kapiris worked as the Information Technology (IT) manager at the non-profit organization. As part of his responsibilities, the organization provided Kapiris access to two company credit cards to purchase IT equipment and services as needed. Beginning in 2016, Kapiris used the two company credit cards to purportedly purchase IT equipment from two vendor accounts on Square and one account on Amazon. In reality, it is alleged that Kapiris created the three vendor accounts to embezzle the funds and fabricated sales invoices for purportedly purchased equipment to conceal the scheme. Kapiris allegedly used the names of legitimate Massachusetts companies for the two Square accounts and created the Amazon account in the name of a fictitious company, “NetworkingPlus.”

It is alleged that Kapiris linked the three vendor accounts to several of his own personal accounts at Bank of America into which he transferred the fraudulent proceeds. Kapiris then used the stolen funds for personal expenses including a $19,250 payment to a contractor that Kapiris hired to build a new residence in Northborough.

The charges of wire fraud provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of money laundering provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel Mendell and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement. Assistance was provided by the Sturbridge and Northborough Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lucy Sun of Mendell’s Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.