A Pittsburgh resident has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of wire fraud and money laundering, as announced by Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti. The indictment names Charles A. Richardson, 45, as the sole defendant.
The indictment alleges that Richardson, who was employed as an information technology professional with The Heinz Endowments, embezzled nearly $1 million from the foundation between 2016 and 2024. The alleged scheme involved a shell corporation controlled by Richardson and fraudulent invoices for work either not performed or performed by other vendors.
If convicted, Richardson faces a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the pecuniary gain associated with the offense. The actual sentence will depend on the seriousness of the offenses and any prior criminal history.
Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey R. Bengel is prosecuting the case for the government. The investigation leading to the indictment was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office.
It is important to note that an indictment is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
