Main Line Painter To Plead Guilty After Allegedly Stealing $900K From Family

A part-time employee at a farm in Willistown Township who stole more than $900,000 from his employers is reportedly planning to plead guilty.

Clifton Wilson, 35, of Bryn Mawr wrote fraudulent checks in the name of the farm's owner, and withdrew funds from her account for personal use, DA Tom Hogan alleges.

Wilson used the money to buy luxury vehicles including two Maseratis, a Porsche SUV, a Land Rover, a rental home, and a family vacation to the Bahamas, the DA said.

"The defendant took advantage of his position of trust," Hogan said. "All because of simple greed."

Wilson had worked for the farm as a painter since 2014, according to the criminal complaint.

According to the Pottstown Mercury, Wilson's lawyer said that he is ready to plead to guilty and that there will not be a trial.

The farm owner first noticed an unauthorized check made out to Wilson for $18,000 in February, the complaint alleges.

An investigation revealed Wilson had stolen 148 blank checks from the property, forging amounts ranging from $900 to $18,000 at a time, police said.

"Unfortunately, this is a sad reminder that people and businesses need to be very careful about whom they can trust," Willistown Police Chief John Narcise said.

The total amount stolen was $927,100, the DA said. Wilson has already made over $500,000 in restitution, which Hogan says is "good news."

Image courtesy Chester County District Attorney's Office.