Former Foundation IT Manager Sentenced to Prison for Embezzling Nearly $1 Million from Employer

PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced in federal court to 12 months and one day of imprisonment on his conviction of wire fraud, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.

United States District Judge Christy Criswell Wiegand imposed the sentence on Charles A. Richardson, 45.

According to information presented to the Court, Richardson was employed as an information technology professional with the Pittsburgh-based philanthropic foundation The Heinz Endowments. Between 2016 and 2024, Richardson embezzled nearly $1 million in funds from his employer through a shell corporation Richardson controlled by authorizing payment for fraudulent invoices that billed the foundation for work not performed either by Richardson's shell corporation or other vendors.
Assistant United States Attorney William Guappone prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

United States Attorney Rivetti commended the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Allegheny County District Attorney's Office for the investigation leading to the successful prosecution of Richardson.