Flowery Branch Man Pleads Guilty to Over $1 Million Fraud Scheme, Stole From Employer
Michael Mayfield, 55, of Flowery Branch, Georgia, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, admitting his role in orchestrating a scheme that defrauded his employer, Mars Wrigley, of more than $1 million. The guilty plea was entered on August 19, 2024.
According to U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan, Mayfield, who was employed as an environmental manager at the Mars Wrigley factory in Flowery Branch, diverted rebate checks and submitted false invoices while overseeing the company’s environmental and recycling programs. The fraudulent activities began around early December 2016.
Mayfield misappropriated rebate checks totaling over $500,000, which he channeled to his own company, WWJ Recycling. The stolen funds were used for personal expenses, including hunting trips exceeding $100,000, a church donation of over $80,000, and more than $200,000 in personal checks.
Additionally, Mayfield and a co-conspirator created false invoices from ASA Safety Supply, a Mars Wrigley supplier, for personal items such as football supplies and stadium improvements. These false invoices amounted to over $199,000. Mayfield also submitted fictitious invoices from WWJ Recycling to ASA Safety Supply, leading to payments of over $750,000 for non-existent work.
FBI Atlanta Assistant Special Agent in Charge Sean Burke emphasized the FBI’s commitment to pursuing white-collar criminals and holding them accountable for their actions.
Mayfield is scheduled to be sentenced on December 2, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. before U.S. District Judge Richard W. Story in Gainesville, Georgia. The case is under investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
