MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) – A Fairhope man admitted in federal court Tuesday federal that he embezzled more than $800,000 from his employer – and then lied about having an inoperable brain tumor when questioned about the missing money.
Gregory Andersen pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to theft of government money, wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. According to his written plea agreement, he worked as the office manager for a soil testing company in Robertsdale from 2020 until the business discovered financial discrepancies in 2023.
While investigating the embezzlement, law enforcement agents discovered that Andersen had been receiving disability benefits without reporting his income. Investigators determined that the Social Security Administration overpaid him $61,609 from December 2020 and September 2023.
Defense attorney Will Alford said his client agreed to plead guilty through a legal mechanism known as an “information,” which bypasses a grand jury and an indictment…