Non-existent office supplies and unpaid invoices — Dc Design alleges accountant defrauded the company

The Newfoundland and Labrador Supreme Court has ordered an accountant to pay up after his former employer alleged he fraudulently took hundreds of thousands of dollars from the company by faking invoices, billing for non-existent office supplies and more.

According to documents recently filed in court, Don-E Coady's Dc Design House Inc. claims that for the seven months Craig Williams worked for the company as an accountant, he misappropriated $113,048.51.

"Williams has been unjustly enriched at the expense and deprivation of Dc Design as a result of his fraudulent activity and it would be unjust in the circumstances for Williams to retain any benefit derived from his fraudulent activity," reads the statement of claim dated Oct. 4.

Williams did not file any statement of defence and the claims have not been proven in court.

On Oct. 29 a judge granted a default order for Williams to repay the total amount Dc Design alleges he misappropriated.

CBC News has asked Williams for an interview.

In an emailed statement to CBC News, Coady wrote, "I am encouraged to say that justice has already started to arrive for this man."

"I hope my story is a message to our business community: No matter how careful you think you are — get a second opinion. If something or someone feels off, you're probably right."

'Untrustworthy character'

According to documents filed by Coady's lawyer Robert Bradbury of Bruce and Bradbury Law, Williams began working for Dc Design in late November 2023 as a financial administrator, which gave him access to the business' funds.

They allege that within days of being hired, Williams began to enrich himself.

From Nov. 27, 2023 to July 9, 2024, "Williams engaged in numerous incidents of fraud and misappropriation of funds against Dc Design which seriously prejudiced Dc Design's interest and reveal his untrustworthy character which were inconsistent with the continuation of the employment relationship," says the statement of claim.

Dc Design terminated Williams' employment with cause on July 9, 2024.

"The full extent of Williams' dishonesty and fraudulent conduct was not known to Dc Design until an investigation was subsequently completed," the statement reads.

It also alleges Williams made unauthorized electronic transfers from Dc Design to his personal credit card accounts, fraudulently reimbursed himself for office equipment and supplies which were never actually bought, and issued duplicate payroll payments to himself.

The company also accuses Williams of misdirecting funds from Dc Design through unauthorized transfers to his personal bank account, while also faking payments to vendors that Dc Design did business with.

"However, the funds were never received by the vendors because the electronic transfers were directed to various email addresses associated with Williams to facilitate the deposit of the funds into his personal bank account for his own personal use and benefit," said the statement of claim.

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