Woonsocket Man Sentenced In Million-Dollar MA Embezzlement Scheme

WOONSOCKET, RI — A Woonsocket man will serve more than three years in prison after he was found guilty of embezzling more than $1 million from a Massachusetts company. Michael H. Tran, 35, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and five counts of wire fraud in August.

According to the Department of Justice, Tran worked with Darren Cormier, who was a product manager at a Bellingham manufacturing company. From December 2013 to May 2016, Cormier used company credit cards linked to his PayPal account to embezzle funds, telling the company he was making business purchases while actually paying the money to Tran, who cashed the funds and used them for personal expenses. Cormier hid the fraud by changing the name on Tran's PayPal to look like a legitimate vendor.

Both Tran and Cormier also submitted fake invoices and purchase orders for made-up companies like "A Plug Tool Supply" and "MHT Industrial."

Cormier faced separate charges, pleading guilty in March. He is set to be sentenced on Nov. 26.

In federal court in Boston on Tuesday, Tran was ordered to serve 46 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay $1,284,792 each in forfeiture and restitution.