Thursday, March 28, 2024
Hawai'i Free Press

Current Articles | Archives

Tuesday, March 29, 2022
Former OHA Aide Pleads Guilty to $1.2 Million Fraud and Money Laundering
By News Release @ 4:53 PM :: 2328 Views :: Ethics, OHA, Small Business

Honolulu Bookkeeper Pleads Guilty to $1.2 Million Fraud and Money Laundering

News Release from US DoJ, March 28, 2022

HONOLULU – Paul Henri Marie Harleman, 35, of Honolulu, appeared today before United States District Judge Derrick K. Watson and pleaded guilty to six counts of wire fraud and eight counts of money laundering contained in a federal indictment. Harleman has been detained since his arrest on April 23, 2021. Harleman is scheduled for sentencing on August 2, 2022. 

According to court records, while Harleman was working as a contract bookkeeper, he devised two fraud schemes to obtain money from three of his clients. In the first scheme, from July 2018 to May 2020, Harleman formed a limited liability company with a name nearly identical to the name of a significant vendor to one of his clients, and then charged the client’s credit card for more than $146,000 in fraudulent invoices. In the second scheme, from September 2019 to his arrest, Harleman transferred more than $1,064,000 in a series of payments disguised as payroll from two of his clients to Harleman’s limited liability company. Harleman moved money fraudulently obtained from his three clients from his personal checking account to a personal investment account, resulting in the money laundering charges.

“This indictment arose from the concerted efforts of our federal law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute financial crimes occurring in our district,” stated United States Attorney Clare E. Connors. “As reflected in the plea colloquy today in court, the defendant intentionally defrauded his clients and devised a scheme to conceal and further his illegal conduct. Our office will continue to identify and hold accountable those who commit such integrity crimes against our community members.”

“Because finances play such an integral part to our wellbeing, we place our utmost trust in accountants, bookkeepers, and other financial professionals to safeguard our financial security,” said IRS Criminal Investigation (“IRS:CI”) Special Agent in Charge Bret Kressin, of the Seattle Field Office. “When these individuals whom we have entrusted with our essential welfare decide to utterly betray this trust, hardworking individuals and whole communities suffer the consequences. IRS:CI understands how devastating financial crimes are, and we are committed to investigating and bringing to justice those like Mr. Harleman who care for nothing but their own greed.”

“Mr. Harleman was motivated by greed as he heartlessly stole thousands of dollars from small businesses and non-profit organizations,” said Special Agent in Charge John F. Tobon of Homeland Security Investigations Honolulu (“HSI”). “This guilty plea should send the message that HSI and our law enforcement partners will relentlessly pursue anyone who intends to hurt the people in our community for profit.”

As a result of his guilty pleas, Harleman faces up to 20 years imprisonment on each of the wire fraud counts and up to 10 years imprisonment on each of the money laundering counts, as well as a fine of up to $250,000 on each count, plus a term of supervised release up to three years. The court must also order restitution to the victims and forfeiture of the fraud proceeds and the property involved in the money laundering.

The case was investigated by Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Craig S. Nolan is prosecuting the case.

The case originated with the United States Attorney’s Financial Crimes Task Force, which marshals federal resources to combat financial crimes victimizing residents, businesses, and non-profits in the District of Hawaii. Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, the task force includes Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, United States Secret Service, United States Postal Inspection Service, Federal Reserve Office of Inspector General, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General, and Federal Bureau of Investigation.

---30---

SA: Honolulu bookkeeper pleads guilty to defrauding clients

2021: OHA aide accused of wire fraud--Tried to Flee Country

Links

TEXT "follow HawaiiFreePress" to 40404

Register to Vote

2aHawaii

808 Silent Majority

Aloha Pregnancy Care Center

AntiPlanner

Antonio Gramsci Reading List

A Place for Women in Waipio

Ballotpedia Hawaii

Broken Trust

Build More Hawaiian Homes Working Group

Christian Homeschoolers of Hawaii

Cliff Slater's Second Opinion

DVids Hawaii

FIRE

Fix Oahu!

Frontline: The Fixers

Genetic Literacy Project

Grassroot Institute

Habele.org

Hawaii Aquarium Fish Report

Hawaii Aviation Preservation Society

Hawaii Catholic TV

Hawaii Christian Coalition

Hawaii Cigar Association

Hawaii ConCon Info

Hawaii Debt Clock

Hawaii Defense Foundation

Hawaii Family Forum

Hawaii Farmers and Ranchers United

Hawaii Farmer's Daughter

Hawaii Federalist Society

Hawaii Federation of Republican Women

Hawaii History Blog

Hawaii Homeschool Association

Hawaii Jihadi Trial

Hawaii Legal News

Hawaii Legal Short-Term Rental Alliance

Hawaii Matters

Hawaii's Partnership for Appropriate & Compassionate Care

Hawaii Public Charter School Network

Hawaii Rifle Association

Hawaii Shippers Council

Hawaii Smokers Alliance

Hawaii State Data Lab

Hawaii Together

HIEC.Coop

HiFiCo

Hiram Fong Papers

Homeschool Legal Defense Hawaii

Honolulu Moms for Liberty

Honolulu Navy League

Honolulu Traffic

House Minority Blog

Imua TMT

Inouye-Kwock, NYT 1992

Inside the Nature Conservancy

Inverse Condemnation

Investigative Project on Terrorism

July 4 in Hawaii

Kakaako Cares

Keep Hawaii's Heroes

Land and Power in Hawaii

Legislative Committee Analysis Tool

Lessons in Firearm Education

Lingle Years

Managed Care Matters -- Hawaii

Malama Pregnancy Center of Maui

MentalIllnessPolicy.org

Military Home Educators' Network Oahu

Missile Defense Advocacy

MIS Veterans Hawaii

NAMI Hawaii

Natatorium.org

National Christian Foundation Hawaii

National Parents Org Hawaii

NFIB Hawaii News

No GMO Means No Aloha

Not Dead Yet, Hawaii

NRA-ILA Hawaii

Oahu Alternative Transport

Obookiah

OHA Lies

Opt Out Today

OurFutureHawaii.com

Patients Rights Council Hawaii

PEACE Hawaii

People vs Machine

Practical Policy Institute of Hawaii

Pritchett Cartoons

Pro-GMO Hawaii

P.U.E.O.

RailRipoff.com

Rental by Owner Awareness Assn

ReRoute the Rail

Research Institute for Hawaii USA

Rick Hamada Show

RJ Rummel

Robotics Organizing Committee

School Choice in Hawaii

SenatorFong.com

Sink the Jones Act

Statehood for Guam

Talking Tax

Tax Foundation of Hawaii

The Real Hanabusa

Time Out Honolulu

Trustee Akina KWO Columns

UCC Truths

US Tax Foundation Hawaii Info

VAREP Honolulu

Waagey.org

West Maui Taxpayers Association

What Natalie Thinks

Whole Life Hawaii

Yes2TMT