GAINESVILLE, Ga. — Michael Mayfield, a former environmental manager at the Mars Wrigley factory in Flowery Branch, Georgia, has been sentenced to three years in federal prison for defrauding his employer of over $1.2 million.
Mayfield, 55, orchestrated a fraudulent scheme involving false invoices and diverted rebate checks, spanning from December 2016 to 2022, according to U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. “Mayfield devised a false invoicing scheme to betray and defraud his employer of more than $1 million,” Buchanan said.
Mayfield manipulated the factory’s recycling program by diverting valuable rebate checks to his own company, WWJ Recycling, instead of the factory. These payments, totaling more than $500,000, funded hunting trips, personal checks, and an $80,000 donation to his church.
He also directed a co-conspirator to create false invoices for Mars Wrigley. The items listed, valued at $199,000, were used for personal expenses, including equipment for the Flowery Branch High School football team and tickets to a University of Georgia football game. Additionally, Mayfield invoiced Mars Wrigley for non-existent services through his company and a co-conspirator’s supplier, defrauding the factory of over $750,000.
Mayfield pleaded guilty to the charges in August 2024. U.S. District Judge Richard W. Story sentenced him to three years in prison, three years of supervised release, and ordered restitution of $1,269,457.56. The case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Huber.