A Charlotte bookkeeper pleaded guilty Wednesday to wire fraud for embezzling approximately $1.6 million from two Mooresville companies, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Marc Weiss, 48, was released on bond while awaiting sentencing. The wire charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. A sentencing date has not been set. Weiss could not be reached for comment.
From 2016 to 2022, Weiss was employed by the two companies as a bookkeeper. During this time, he made 120 fraudulent transfers totaling $1.6 million from the companies’ accounts into bank accounts under his control.
To disguise the fraud, Weiss created fake entries in the two companies’ books and records that made the fraudulent transfers appear as payments to existing vendors for software development, advertising and marketing expenses.
Weiss admitted in court he used the embezzled money to pay for items including a luxury apartment in Charlotte, to make payments on high-end vehicles and for travel and vacations.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office did not disclose the name of the two companies in its release.