Northridge
A Simi Valley man who embezzled $1.25 million from his former employer has pleaded guilty to two counts of filing false income tax returns, authorities said.
Andrew P. Simko, 50, also pleaded guilty Monday in U. S. District Court in Los Angeles to stealing more than $9,900 that he fraudulently transferred from a Minnesota bank to one in Northridge.
Before being fired, Simko embezzled more than $1.25 million while a credit supervisor at 3M Corp.’s Northridge pharmaceutical plant from September 1985 until June 1994, said a special agent with the Internal Revenue Service.
He set up two shell companies to receive more than 170 fraudulently obtained checks from 3M, the agent said. Simko contends that one other person was involved in bilking the company, but as yet, no other charges have been filed, the agent said.
Simko underreported his income by more than $225,000 in 1989 and $85,000 in 1990 after failing to include his embezzlement spoils on his federal tax returns, Assistant U. S. Atty. Ellyn Lindsay said.
He is scheduled to be sentenced by District Judge Harry L. Hupp on July 8. Simko faces up to eight years in prison and $750,000 in fines.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
