A Canonsburg, Pennsylvania resident has been sentenced to 27 months in federal prison for his involvement in a long-term embezzlement scheme. Jonathan A. Weston, 60, was ordered by United States District Judge W. Scott Hardy to pay more than $8 million in restitution following his conviction on charges of fraud conspiracy, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and filing false income tax returns.
Weston is required to pay $6,870,128 to Hillandale Farms Co. and $1,216,176 to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). He must also forfeit assets acquired through illegal activities, including a 2008 Aston Martin and a 1933 Ford Model 40 Coupe.
From October 2005 to January 2019, Weston worked as an accountant at Hillandale Farms Co., based in Greensburg, Pennsylvania. During this time, he collaborated with another employee to embezzle approximately $6.8 million from the company. The stolen funds were laundered through businesses they controlled and used for personal purchases such as collectible cars and real estate. Between 2013 and 2018, Weston either failed to file or filed false federal income tax returns that underreported over $500,000 in embezzled funds.
Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti commented on the case: “For more than a dozen years, the defendant took advantage of his role as an accountant for a profitable family farming business to defraud the company of nearly $7 million—and the Internal Revenue Service of more than $1 million—and then launder that money for his own personal and financial benefit.” He acknowledged the IRS-Criminal Investigation's efforts in bringing Weston to justice.
Yury Kruty from IRS-CI’s Philadelphia Field Office noted Weston's actions: “Jonathan Weston conspired to embezzle more than $6.8 million from his former employer over the course of a decade.” Kruty emphasized that these are serious crimes that IRS-CI will continue to pursue aggressively.
Assistant United States Attorney Gregory C. Melucci prosecuted the case against Weston. Acting U.S. Attorney Rivetti praised IRS-CI for their investigation leading to Weston's prosecution.