DETROIT — A Port Huron man has pleaded guilty in federal court after admitting to a years-long scheme that siphoned nearly $1 million from his employer.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Michigan, Peter Paulus, 51, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud in connection with the theft of approximately $900,000.
Federal prosecutors say that between November 2020 and August 2023, Paulus worked as a sales manager at Countertops Direct, located in Harrison Township. During that time, he devised a scheme to divert customer credit card payments away from the company and into bank accounts he personally controlled.
Court records show Paulus manipulated transaction display information and falsified receipts to make it appear as though customer payments were properly remitted to the business. In reality, the funds were being rerouted for his own use, allowing the scheme to continue undetected for nearly three years.
Peter Paulus’s guilty plea reaffirms that financial crimes carried out through deception come with consequences. Our team from the FBI Macomb County Resident Agency continues to do outstanding work, alongside the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan, with the goal of protecting public trust and ensuring financial crimes are thoroughly investigated and prosecuted.
Jennifer Runyan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office
Paulus is scheduled to be sentenced on May 19, 2026. He faces a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in federal prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both.
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