Lancaster Man Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud

COLUMBIA, S.C. -Robert Namath Emory, 54, of Lancaster, has pleaded guilty to wire fraud after embezzling funds from his employer.

Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that Emory was the head of the accounting department for Mar Mac Protective Apparel, a company in McBee that makes hazardous materials (HAZMAT) suits. Mar Mac used an invoice system that attached a blank, physical check to invoices of large vendors, but would submit payment electronically. Mar Mac used check numbers internally and never submitted them to the bank, thereby avoiding using duplicate checks numbers. Beginning in January 2016, Emory would exploit a flaw in this system by doubling the amount of the invoices, making an electronic payment to the vendor and then use the check numbers to write physical checks to himself or his personal LLC.

Emory pleaded guilty to count one of his 50-count indictment for submitting a fraudulent check for $9,583.79 in February 2021. Through this scheme, Emory was able to obtain nearly $5 million. Emory was previously convicted of wire fraud in 2008.

Emory faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. He also faces a fine of up to $250,000, restitution, and three years of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment. United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis accepted the guilty plea and will sentence Emory after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.

This case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office and the Chesterfield County Sheriff's Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Winston Holliday and Scott Matthews are prosecuting the case.

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