TDS® comments on sentencing in theft by mail fraud case
TDS® comments on sentencing in theft by mail fraud case
On March 13, 2012, U.S. District Judge Barbara B. Crabb of the Western District of Wisconsin sentenced a former TDS Telecom (TDS®) employee and a Hilton, New York vendor accused of thirty counts of theft by mail fraud.
Andrew Mahaffy, Sr. was sentenced to fifty-one months in federal prison and Timothy Furness, owner of F.F. Tronixs, received an eighteen month sentence. Both were also ordered to pay full restitution for their crimes.
The following statements can be attributed to Dave Wittwer, president and chief executive officer for TDS Telecommunications Corp.:
“The prison sentences handed down yesterday, including full financial restitution for their crimes are vindication for our employees, customers, and shareholders.
“TDS appreciates the significant efforts put forward by the U.S. Attorney for Western Wisconsin, John Vaudreuil and his office, to generate strong indictments resulting in stiff sentences against a former employee and a vendor accused of a scheme to defraud TDS.
“In 2010, TDS identified financial irregularities in accounts relating to F.F. Tronixs, Inc. and former employee, Andrew G. Mahaffy, Sr. In response, TDS retained outside legal counsel and hired a forensic investigator to conduct a thorough financial investigation.
“Subsequent to our findings, TDS immediately referred the matter to the United States Attorney’s Office.
“TDS maintains zero tolerance regarding fraud and malfeasance by employees or vendors. TDS further adheres to a strict policy to prosecute, to the fullest extent of the law, any crimes committed against our company.”
