CFO allegedly edited executives’ emails to give herself employee benefits, compensation

Green gabion wall units, one of the construction projects of Maccaferri Canada, is pictured in 2016 in Owen Sound, Ont. (Maccaferri Canada)

A former executive edited emails to fraudulently approve employee benefits and compensation, U.S. officials allege in the announcement of her indictment.

Teresa Desy Majo is accused of defrauding the Canadian and American units of the Italy-based multinational civil engineering firm. The 42-year-old is the former chief financial officer at Officine Maccaferri S.p.A.

Majo is charged with wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and possession of a perjured immigration document. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland announced the indictment in a press release Monday. It stated that the charges are related to an embezzlement scheme and immigration fraud.

It is alleged that Majo’s scheme to defraud both Maccaferri Canada and Maccaferri USA began in January 2021, and continued through May 2024, according to the news release citing the indictment.

The two companies are subsidiaries of Officine Maccaferri S.p.A., based in Bologna, Italy. The company designs and manufactures products for the global construction industry. Majo was chief financial officer of the North American units.

“The former CFO used multiple Maccaferri executives’ identities to fraudulently approve alleged employment benefits and compensation to enrich herself,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland said in the press release.

Majo modified executives’ emails to “fraudulently authorize other unwarranted employment compensation and benefits,” the authorities allege.

She then submitted the counterfeit documents to Maccaferri Canada’s and Maccaferri USA’s payroll departments, according to the release.

Authorities said she was fired but was able to obtain legal permanent resident status in the U.S., as she hid her termination from, and “lied to,” immigration authorities. Majo is from Italy but resides in Annadale, Va.

The press release stated that individuals charged by indictment are “presumed innocent” unless found guilty at a criminal proceeding. The charges have not been tested in court.

Officine Maccaferri S.p.A., Maccaferri USA and Maccaferri Canada didn’t immediately respond to CTVNews.ca’s request for comment.