Wilkes-Barre Accountant Sentenced To 30 Months In Prison For Embezzling Over $1.5 Million From Employer

SCRANTON- The United States Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today that Lawrence Malachefski, age 39, of Wilkes-Barre, PA, was sentenced on August 26, 2024, by United States District Court Judge Malachy E. Mannion to 30 months' imprisonment and a three-year term of supervised release for wire fraud.

According to the United States Attorney Gerard M. Karam, from approximately March 2023 to May 2023, while serving as the financial Controller of a Wilkes-Barre based Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) business, Malachefski embezzled over $1.5 million from his employer, converting the funds to his own personal use and then spending the money primarily on online sports betting websites. At his sentencing, Malachefski was also ordered to pay $1,586,557.45 in restitution to the victim-company.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) - Philadelphia Division and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffery St John.

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