Former Financial Controller Sentenced to Jail for Embezzling Nearly Half a Million Dollars from Family Business in San Diego | USAO-SDCA

U.S. Assistant Attorney Rebecca S. Kanter (619) 546-7304

PRESS RELEASE SUMMARY – January 10, 2022

SAN DIEGO – Derick Jonathan Cameron of Vancouver, Washington, was sentenced today to 20 months in prison in federal court for embezzling more than $ 400,000 while serving as the financial controller for the San Diego-based RAL Investment Corporation.

Cameron previously pleaded guilty and admitted having misused his access to the company’s accounting software by writing more than 200 unauthorized checks with the company’s CFO’s electronic signature and depositing them into his personal bank account. He then disguised the payments by tampering with the company’s accounting records to create the appearance that each check was made out to a legitimate third party for a business expense. The company discovered Cameron’s fraudulent activity in April 2018, fired Cameron and reported the conduct to law enforcement when Cameron failed to make his promised repayments on time.

In addition to the 20 months of federal custody, U.S. District Judge Todd W. Robinson ordered a three-year supervised release, fined $ 8,000, and sentenced Cameron to pay $ 203,857 to the victim, RAL Investment Corporation, the difference between that Amount equals Cameron embezzled ($ 403,857) and the amount he repaid to his former employer in 2018 ($ 200,000) after his theft was discovered. The court specifically ordered Cameron to repay $ 10,000 by March 12, 2022, suggesting Cameron could sell a recently purchased motorcycle to pay off the debt.

“The impact of fraud on small businesses can be devastating,” said US Attorney Randy Grossman. “This defendant has abused his trust to gain wealth and has been held accountable for his crime.” Grossman thanked the Attorney General and the FBI for an excellent job on the case.

“The FBI will continue to take tough action against those who use their access to the workplace for personal and financial gain rather than professional responsibility,” said Suzanne Turner, FBI special adviser. “Mr. Cameron’s check writing has harmed this small family business, jeopardizing its existence and affecting its employees. Today Mr. Cameron was convicted for these crimes.”

Cameron is scheduled to surrender to the Bureau of Prisons on or before March 14, 2022.

ACCUSED File Number 21cr2128-TWR

Derick Jonathan Cameron Age: 38 Vancouver, Washington

SUMMARY OF CHARGES

Wire Fraud – Title 18, USC, Section 1343

Maximum Penalty: Twenty years in prison and a $ 250,000 fine or double profit / loss, whichever is greater

AGENCY

Federal Office for Investigations