A former employee of the Jacksonville Jaguars has been charged with stalking over $22 million from the professional football team and spending it on a luxury shopping spree.
A federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment against Shannon Manning, 41, on May 13 in Jacksonville, charging her with wire fraud and money laundering. Manning worked for the Jaguars as a senior accounting manager between December 2001 and February 2016, according to prosecutors and her former attorney, Mark Bogen.
During her tenure with the team, Manning had access to the Jaguars’ accounts, and allegedly used those privileges to syphon millions of dollars of team funds for her own luxurious lifestyle. She reportedly used the money to purchase a million dollar home, high-end jewelry, luxury travel, and to pay for her children’s school tuition.
Manning was able to get away with the fraudulent activity by writing checks to fake companies and sending wire transfers overseas. She then created phony invoices to dupe the team into thinking the money was being spent for legitimate expenses.
If convicted, Manning faces a hefty prison sentence and a hefty financial penalty. Jacksonville Jaguars officials had no comment on the matter. They said their ‘number one priority is protecting the financial integrity of the organization’. They said they had already implemented additional financial security measures since Manning’s alleged scheme was discovered.
This case serves as a stark reminder for businesses large and small, to ensure that their financial records and internal systems are secure and properly monitored. While there’s no foolproof way to prevent employees from stealing money, employers can create safeguards that make it more difficult for dishonest individuals to commit fraud.
