Oakland County Man Pleads Guilty To Stealing $1.7 Million From Employer

SOUTH LYON (WWJ) - A 58-year-old Oakland County man who embezzled $1.7 million from his employer has pleaded guilty to wire fraud.

Joseph Vincent Tacinelli issued the plea this week before U.S. District Judge Denise Page Hood. The deal calls for a sentence of 41-51 months in prison.

Tacinelli was formerly employed as the Chief Financial Officer of USUI International Corporation, the American subsidiary of a Japanese Auto parts manufacturer, USUI Kokusai Sangyo Kaisha (USUI Japan).

USUI Japan also owned a Mexican subsidiary, USUI Mexico. Pursuant to a service agreement, USUI America controlled USUI Mexico's finances. As CFO for USUI America, Tacinelli had access to and control of USUI Mexico's bank account.

From September 2013 through November 2014, Tacinelli transferred $1,329,146 from USUI Mexico's bank account into his own personal bank account. Prosecutors say Tacinelli obtained these funds by initiating and approving 17 separate interstate wire transfers of funds from USUI Mexico's bank account to his personal account, ranging in value from $7,989 to $486,554.

Tacinelli had no authorization from anyone at USUI Japan, USUI America, or USUI Mexico to initiate or approve any of these wire transfers, investigators said.

As part of his plea agreement, Tacinelli also admitted to illegally obtaining an additional $442,852 from USUI America in the form of false credit card reports, false expense reports, and the theft of tax refunds belonging to USUI America.

Tacinelli is due back in court on January 7 for sentencing.