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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowA Westfield man has been sentenced to 30 months in federal prison for stealing $270,000 from his employer in a fraud scheme.
Joshua D. Millspaugh, 42, the former practice administrator for Whitson Vision PC, also must pay $270,000 in restitution and be supervised for three years following his release from prison, U.S. District Court Judge James P. Hanlon ordered.
The Department of Justice announced Thursday that Millspaugh received the sentence after pleading guilty to charges of wire fraud.
Investigators say Millspaugh began working for Whitson Vision, an ophthalmology practice with offices in Indianapolis and Avon, in 2013 with responsibility for payroll processing, purchasing and bill payment. He received an annual salary of more than $100,000.
Less than a year after his hiring, Millspaugh began using his access to company accounts to divert money to himself, investigators say. Over the next five years, through more than 500 transactions, Millspaugh used company money to make personal purchases, pay his own bills and send extra payroll checks to his bank account. He concealed the transactions with false entries in the company’s books and through fictitious justifications when asked about the expenditures.
Dr. William Whitson, owner of Whitson Vision, told the court before sentencing that Millspaugh’s crimes resulted in credit, banking and morale problems for his company and hurt the reputation of his business.
The investigation was conducted by the Indianapolis office of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
“Fraud on a small business impacts every area of that business,” U.S. Attorney Zachary Myers said in written remarks. “It also breeds mistrust, especially if the fraud is perpetrated by a trusted employee. Mr. Millspaugh exploited his position of trust for purely personal gain, and he is now being held accountable for his actions.”
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I understand the prison time, but how will he make restitution if he can’t work.
What a putz!! Dirt ball!! 30 months is not enough – he did it 500+ times!! Only reason I would ever condone only a 30 month sentence is so he can start paying restitution sooner rather than later through the garnishment of his wages until his debts (plus interest) are paid back. I am sure this is what the Judge and Prosecutor were thinking.