FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Loudoun County, VA (July 27, 2022) – Three men have been charged in connection with an embezzlement scheme where they created employees through a third-party temp agency and falsified timesheets for a total of $257,086.
In May 2022, representatives from Beckstrom Electric learned of possible embezzlement from their company by an employee. Through the course of the investigation, detectives with the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office Financial Crimes Unit determined that two employees with the electrical company conspired with the owner of R Gonzales Sheet Metal, LLC and 3RG and Systems, LLC, a third-party temp agency that provides temporary part-time workers. The three created fake employees and began charging wages via timesheets to Beckstrom Electric for workers that were never on the job site. The scheme began in December 2020 and continued until it was discovered in May 2022.
During the investigation, it was also determined the three suspects were stealing scrap copper from job sites and selling it to local scrap metal dealers for a total of $46,823.
The three suspects were arrested last week following the conclusion of the investigation.
Francisco Aguilar Paz, 35, of Leesburg was charged with Felony Embezzlement, Felony Conspiracy to Commit Larceny and Felony Forgery. Jose Aguilar Paz, 41, also of Leesburg was charged with two counts of Felony Embezzlement, two counts of Conspiracy to Commit Larceny, and Felony Forgery. Raul Gonzales Ascencio, 43, of Manassas, was charged with two counts of Obtaining Money by False Pretenses and two counts of Felony Conspiracy to Commit Larceny.
Francisco Aguilar Paz and Jose Aguilar Paz were both released from the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center on a $5,000 secured bond. Gonzales Ascencio was released on a personal recognizance bond.
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