ST. LOUIS – A 45-year-old man was charged earlier this month in a federal indictment for three counts of wire fraud.
Bryan Vonderahe appeared in court Monday morning. According to the indictment, during January 2012 through January of this year, he schemed to defraud a local company where he was employed as chief financial officer and controlled. He is alleged to have issued approximately 500 company checks to himself during that time – which totaled about $3.8 million.
According to the indictment, Vonderahe falsified internal company records and issued false financial statements to the company’s outside auditors to cover up and conceal his fraud scheme.
Vonderahe is alleged to have used the stolen and embezzled funds for his own personal use, unrelated to the legitimate business of the company, including to pay for a lavish lifestyle; to pay for travel for himself and his family to locations such as Florida, Colorado, and Nevada; to make payments on his personal residential mortgage; and to pay for gambling and related activities.
A federal judge issued seizure warrants for two vehicles, a GMC Acadia Denali and a Land Rover, Range Rover Sport. The Indictment seeks forfeiture of Vonderahe’s residence on Windy Hill Road in Kirkwood and a second residence on Chardin Place in St. Louis.
If convicted, as to each charge Vonderahe faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
