A former bookkeeper for a Downtown business and a Pacific Beach realty company will surrender to federal prison by July 20 to start her 29-month term after pleading guilty to bilking both businesses out of $839,164.
Susan Ann Sears, 65, remains free on a $20,000 bond because she is working. U.S. District Court Judge Gonzalo Curiel permitted her to continue working up until she surrenders so she can continue to pay both companies back.
Curiel ordered her to pay $674,673 to American Express, which was illegally used by Sears while working at Shapery Enterprises on Broadway, according to court records.
She was also ordered to pay $165,000 to Hope Campbell Realty, Inc., on Garnet Avenue, in Pacific Beach, records say. Sears lives in Scripps Ranch and has declared personal bankruptcy.
Sears’ attorney, Paul Barr, filed documents that said it all started in June 2018 “in a frantic attempt to help her (adult) son” who was facing imminent eviction after struggling with substance abuse, anxiety, and depression.
Barr wrote she opened an American Express credit card account to pay her son’s property management company $4,620 so he wouldn’t be homeless. She continued to help him and another adult child, according to documents.
“At that moment, Mrs. Sears didn’t know how she was going to pay off that bill,” wrote her attorney. “Unfortunately, for everyone involved in this case, the way that Mrs. Sears eventually paid that first charge to American Express was to abuse her position with her employer.”
“Mrs. Sears continued to use the card. Sometimes for her own daily expenses and sometimes in her continuing misguided efforts to help her adult children,” wrote Barr. “She regrets it every day.”
Barr asked for no more than a 1-year term in prison while the prosecutor sought a 28-month sentence.
“Sears took advantage of her employers’ trust and treated their bank accounts as her personal piggy bank, stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars,” said U.S. Attorney Randy Grossman in a statement.
“This defendant inflicted substantial damage to two San Diego businesses and has been held to account for her conduct,” said Grossman, thanking the FBI and the prosecutors for their work.
“Embezzlement will always come to light – the short-term benefits are never worth the repercussions,” said Special Agent in Charge Stacey Moy of the FBI’s San Diego Field Office.
Court records show Sears wrote checks to “S. Sharpery,” which is one letter off from the CEO’s last name and founder of Shapery. American Express reimbursed Shapery Enterprises $674,673, so Sears is ordered to re-reimburse American Express directly for its loss.
