Chico Man Indicted for Embezzling from a Catholic Charity

SACRAMENTO, CA—Acting United States Attorney Lawrence G. Brown announced today that a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging THOM V. RANDLE, 68, of Chico, Calif., with multiple counts of mail fraud, computer fraud, and money laundering offenses.

This case is the product of an extensive joint investigation by the United States Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

According to Assistant United States Attorney Robin R. Taylor, who is prosecuting the case, from September 2004 through September 2005, RANDLE engaged in scheme in which he used his computer to steal funds from Columbian Retirement Home (CRH), a nonprofit retirement facility operated by the Knights of Columbus. RANDLE served on the CRH Board of Directors and was the Vice President of Finance. He embezzled approximately $693,000 from CRH by opening bank accounts and unlawfully transferring funds to other accounts controlled by him. He used the stolen funds to pay for personal expenses without CRH’s authorization or consent.

If convicted, RANDLE faces up to 20 years in prison for the mail and wire fraud offenses; up to 20 years for the money laundering offenses; up to 10 years in prison for the money laundering offenses; and up to five years in prison for the computer fraud offenses; with fines up to twice the value of the victims’ losses.

The charges are only allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

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