May 21, 2012
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) -- A former Shoffner employe will spend 37 months in prison for wire fraud and money laundering convictions.
Rickey L. Bright, 55, formerly of Powell, was sentenced Tuesday morning in federal court in Knoxville. He was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $1,196,404.95 to his former employer.
Court documents reveal that Bright submitted false invoices for payment between April 2005 and April 2008 in that amount, from Shoffner Mechanical, Industrial & Service Company, Inc., based in Knoxville. At the time, Bright was a project manager for the company, which specializes in installation of HVAC, plumbing and electrical components in commercial buildings. He was responsible for approving all purchases associated with his projects.
Bright enlisted the help of a construction products supply company owner in submitting false purchase orders for supplies he didn't require to complete projects. The supply company owner would then submit false invoices, which Bright approved and submitted for payment. Shoffner would mail checks to the supply company, who would then deposit them into the business bank account.
Bright also opened a bank account at Y-12 Federal Credit Union in the name of the Knoxville Track Club. The supply company owner would then write a check to Bright for his share of the embezzled funds payable to that account.
The Department of Justice says Bright determined the amount of money that the supply company owner would keep, as well as the amount he would take.
