$257K Embezzlement Scheme Leads To Charges For 3 Men: Police

LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA ? A $257,000 embezzlement scheme in Loudoun County led to charges for three men, the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office said. Authorities said the men created fake employees and timesheets as part of the scheme.

The sheriff's office also said the men stole $46,000 in copper from job sites and sold it to scrap metal dealers.

Police identified the suspects as Francisco Aguilar Paz from Leesburg, Jose Aguilar Paz from Leesburg, and Raul Gonzales Ascencio from Manassas.

Francisco Aguilar Paz is charged with felony embezzlement, felony conspiracy to commit larceny and felony forgery. Jose Aguilar Paz is charged with two counts of felony embezzlement, two county of felony conspiracy to commit larceny, and one count of felony forgery. Gonzales Ascencio is charged with two counts of obtaining money by false pretenses and two counts of felony conspiracy to commit larceny, police said.

All three men were released from the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center, according to court records. The Aguilar Paz's were released on $5,000 secured bonds, while Gonzales Ascencio was released on a personal recognizance bond.

Beckstrom Electric first learned of the possible embezzlement in May 2022, authorities said. Detectives with the sheriff's office determined that two employees with the electric company worked with a temp agency that provided part-time workers.

The trio created fake employees and started making money through timesheets for the fictional employees, police claimed. Investigators believe the scheme began in Dec. 2020 and continued until May 2022.

Detectives also claimed that the men were stealing copper from job sites. The three men were arrested last week.