ATLANTA — A Georgia-based employee of candy company Mars Wrigley scammed the company out of over $1.2 million, using the funds to pay for hunting trips, football tickets and donations to his church and local schools, federal prosecutors in Atlanta say.
They say Michael Mayfield, 55, was sentenced to three years in prison for stealing from the company between December 2016 and 2022. He was fined also $1,269,457.56, which is to be paid to the candy company.
While working as a manager of health safety and environmental and recycling programs based in Flowery Branch, Mayfield had concocted multiple schemes to defraud the candy company known for Mars bars, M&Ms and other classic candies.
They say he used these stolen funds for personal expenses, but he also used the funds to make large donations to various local organizations like churches and schools.
According to prosecutors, Mayfield stole rebate checks belonging to the Mars Wrigley company, but instead, he siphoned those funds into companies he owned.
As part of their operations, they say the candy company's factory created valuable recycling products that other companies would buy. But instead of cashing these rebate checks in the Mars Wrigley company's bank account, Mayfield deposited them in his own.
These fraudulent checks totaled over $500,000, which Mayfield used on hunting trips worth over $100,000, an $80,000 donation to his church and over $200,000 in personal checks, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia said in a press release.
But prosecutors say that was only one facet of his fraudulent dealings.
Mayfield also wrote $200,000 worth of fraudulent invoices from a supplier to the company, ASA Safety Supply, and then took the money for personal use. The press release said Mayfield had help from within the company, helping him defraud the Mars candy company.
Prosecutors say he used these funds to buy UGA football tickets, gift cards and football supplies for Flowery Branch High School's football team, including uniforms and cleats.
Lastly, he filed $750,000 in fraudulent invoices from his company for work that he never did.
Mayfield pleaded guilty to his crimes in August. After serving his sentence, Mayfield will face three years of supervised release.