Peter Paulus, 51, of Port Huron, Michigan, pleaded guilty last Friday, January 16, to one count of wire fraud, according to the US Attorney’s Office for Michigan’s Eastern District.
According to court documents, between November 2020 and August 2023, Paulus worked as a sales manager at Countertops Direct in Harrison Township, Michigan. During this time, Paulus devised a scheme to divert customer credit card payments from Countertops Direct to bank accounts that he controlled. To cover up the scheme, he falsified transaction display information and receipts, making it appear that the money that he appropriated was in fact remitted to Countertops Direct.
Paulus ultimately embezzled approximately $900,000 from his employer.
Sentencing is scheduled for May 19, 2026. A conviction for wire fraud carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both.
