A former office manager from Attleboro has pleaded guilty in federal court to embezzling more than $400,000 from her employer, a Franklin-based environmental services company. Marie Hobson, 54, entered her plea on October 15, 2025, before U.S. District Court Chief Judge Denise J. Casper. Sentencing is scheduled for January 22, 2026.
Hobson admitted guilt to two counts of wire fraud and one count of filing a false tax return. She was charged earlier this month.
According to court documents, between December 2019 and March 2025, Hobson increased her own payroll by adding about $268,046 in fraudulent expense reimbursements for items such as uniform costs that she did not actually incur. She used the company’s accounting software to make it appear she was only receiving her regular salary.
Hobson also used a company-issued credit card for personal expenses including country club memberships, vacations, cruises, timeshares and costs related to her residence totaling over $105,000.
To hide the scheme further, Hobson did not report the embezzled funds on her federal income tax returns from 2021 through 2024. This resulted in an estimated tax loss of approximately $81,000.
The charge of wire fraud carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison along with supervised release and financial penalties. Filing a false tax return can result in up to three years in prison and additional fines. Sentences are determined by a federal judge based on sentencing guidelines and statutory factors.
“U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Thomas E. Demeo, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston made the announcement today.” The Franklin Police Department assisted with the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rilwan Adeduntan is prosecuting the case.
