Granby Resident Pleads Guilty In Connection With Embezzlement Scheme

BRIDGEPORT, CT — A Granby resident pleaded guilty Thursday in a Bridgeport federal court to charges of wire fraud and tax evasion, and faces a possible prison sentence of up to 25 years.

David McManus, 56, waived his right to be indicted in connection with fraud and tax offenses stemming from his embezzlement of funds from his employer., according to Vanessa Roberts Avery, U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut.

According to court documents and statements made in court, McManus was the chief financial officer for a Hartford-based company for nearly 14 years. Between 2012 and 2018, he embezzled about $433,584 from the company by using company funds to pay off his personal credit card expenses, and by issuing reimbursements to himself for personal expenses unrelated to the company. He also filed federal income tax returns that omitted the embezzled income for the 2015 through 2018 tax years, resulting in a tax loss of $104,094 to the IRS, Avery said.

McManus pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, and one count of tax evasion, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years. He has agreed to pay full restitution to his former employer, as well as all back taxes, interest and penalties, according to Avery.

He is free on a $50,000 bond pending sentencing on Aug. 8.

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