Man admits he gave escort his company credit card in $5M fraud case
A man accused last year of handing over his company credit card to an escort he met online - who then racked up more than $5 million in personal charges - admitted his fraud Wednesday.
Scott Kennedy, 44, stood before U.S. District Judge Elaine Bucklo and told her "I plead guilty" after explaining that he also used funds from the Buffalo Grove company to cover up the personal expenses he and Crystal Lundberg charged to the account, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.
Kennedy, who said he is living in Texas, faces up to 20 years in prison at his sentencing hearing on one count of wire fraud. The hearing is set for May 16. Lundberg has also been charged with wire fraud, and her case is still pending.
Federal authorities say Kennedy met Lundberg online in 2012. He later gave her access to the company credit card, and within two years, she had allegedly helped him rack up $5.79 million on jewelry, electronics, a chauffeur, a maid, two purebred dogs, travel to luxury hot spots, rent and a spa she wanted to open in San Diego.
Kennedy was fired from his job at Nemera, a company based in France with offices in Buffalo Grove, in March 2017. Until then, the feds say he had been the company's highest-ranking financial executive. Court records also indicate Kennedy chose to cooperate with the FBI.
Kennedy's company confronted him about the spending in March 2017, records show.
• This report was produced in partnership with the Chicago Sun-Times. For related coverage, check chicago.suntimes.com.