justice

Grant Devillez Guilty Plea

Accounts Payable Clerk Pleads Guilty to Federal Fraud Charges

 

PROVIDENCE – An accounts payable clerk previously employed at a Providence small business today admitted in federal court that he engaged in a scheme to defraud the business by misappropriating more than $300,000 for his personal use, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.

 

Grant Devillez, 38, of Dayville, Conn., charged by indictment with ten counts of wire fraud, pled guilty to all charges. No plea agreement was filed in this matter.

 

In pleading guilty, Mr. Devillez admitted that from at least February 2016 through July 2018, he engaged in a scheme to defraud Décor Craft, Inc., of approximately $302,000, by misappropriating funds from the business’ bank accounts and transferring those funds to his own personal bank accounts, to his creditors to pay personal bills, and to the bank account of another person in Massachusetts.

 

Mr. Devillez admitted that he was given access to the Décor Craft, Inc. bank account to make authorized payments to vendors.  He admitted that, instead of making those payments, he would either make a partial payment to the vendors, or no payment at all, and would transfer the remaining funds for his own use.  Afterwards, he altered company records to reflect that full payment had been made to vendors.

 

The defendant is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge William E. Smith on April 29, 2022.

 

Wire fraud is punishable by statutory maximum penalties of 20 years imprisonment, a fine of twice the gross/gain loss, and 3 years’ supervised release. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

 

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Denise M. Barton.

 

The matter was investigated by the FBI.