Environmental Manager Pleads Guilty to Stealing From Employer

GAINESVILLE, Ga. - Michael Mayfield, who orchestrated a more than one million dollar scheme to defraud his employer by stealing rebate checks and submitting false invoices to his company, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

"Mayfield stole over one million dollars from his employer related to environmental and recycling programs," said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. "After being entrusted with a fiduciary role, he betrayed that trust and demonstrated that he cared more about his personal gain than the faith his employer placed in him."

"Michael Mayfield not only betrayed his employer, but his actions ultimately increased the costs of business not only for the company but it's customers too," said FBI Atlanta Assistant Special Agent in Charge Sean Burke. "The FBI is committed following every lead to bring white-collar criminals like Mayfield to face justice."

According to U.S. Attorney Buchanan, the charges and other information presented in court: Around early December 2016, Michael Mayfield was employed as an environmental manager at the Mars Wrigley factory in Flowery Branch, Georgia. In that role, he oversaw the Health, Safety, and Environmental and Recycling Programs.

The recycling waste produced at the factory was valuable and companies often made direct payments or sent Mars Wrigley rebate checks after disposal of the material. But unbeknownst to Mars Wrigley, Mayfield diverted the checks to his own company, WWJ Recycling. The fraudulently obtained checks totaled over $500,000. Mayfield used the funds to pay for hunting trips worth more than $100,000, a donation to his church for more than $80,000, and more than $200,000 in personal checks.

Mayfield also directed his co-conspirator to create false invoices from ASA Safety Supply, a supplier to Mars Wrigley. The co-conspirator sent the invoiced items to Mayfield for his personal use and then submitted false invoices from ASA Safety Supply to Mars Wrigley for payment. The purchased items included football supplies for the Flowery Branch High School football team, such as cleats and clothing, improvements to the stadium, tickets to a University of Georgia football game, and gift cards. These false invoices totaled over $199,000.

Mayfield also sent invoices from WWJ Recycling to ASA Safety Supply. His co-conspirator directed ASA Safety Supply to pay those invoices and then submit the false invoices to Mars Wrigley for payment for work that was not done. The WWJ Recycle invoices totaled over $750,000.

Michael Mayfield, 55, of Flowery Branch, Georgia, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud on August 19, 2024. He 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.

This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Huber is prosecuting the case.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney's Public Affairs Office at [email protected] or (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.