Former CFO of Houston Engineering Firm Pleads Guilty to Embezzling Millions

HOUSTON—Christopher McCullough, 47, currently of Frederic, Colorado, and formerly of Houston, has pleaded guilty to interstate transportation of stolen property in connection with his embezzlement of more than $3 million while serving as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of LJA Engineering (LJA), United States Attorney José Angel Moreno announced today.

McCullough entered the guilty plea this afternoon before United States District Judge Nancy Atlas. He now faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Additionally, McCullough has agreed to make full restitution to his former employer of approximately $3.75 million. McCullough remains free on bond pending his sentencing, which is scheduled for July 19, 2010.

According to the factual basis of the plea agreement, McCullough served as the CFO of Houston-based LJA and was a member of the LJA’s Board of Directors. Using the access he had as CFO to LJA bank accounts, McCullough engaged in more than 200 transactions totaling more than $3.5 million in which he converted LJA funds to his personal use. McCullough embezzled these funds by withdrawing cash, writing checks drawn on the LJA accounts to pay his personal expenses and purchasing cashier’s checks with the LJA funds which he used to pay personal expenses. The personal expenses McCullough paid with the embezzled funds include his personal taxes owed to the IRS, stock purchases, the purchase of real estate in Houston and Colorado, and expenses related to the construction, landscaping and interior decorating of a home in Estes Park, Colorado.

The case was investigated by the FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Gregg Costa.

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