U.S. Department of Justice

Terrence Berg
United States Attorney
Eastern District of Michigan

Suite 2001
211 West Fort Street
Detroit, Michigan 48226-3277

EVENT: Guilty Plea
Defendant: Eric McAlpine

BOOKKEEPER SENTENCED TO 37 MONTHS FOR STEALING MILLIONS FROM TITLE COMPANY

A 45 year-old Macomb man who embezzled over $2.2 million while working as a bookkeeper for a now-defunct Michigan title company was sentenced to 37 months in federal prison today, Acting United States Attorney Terrence Berg announced today.

Joined in the announcement was FBI Special Agent in Charge Andrew G. Arena.

Eric McAlpine was an independent contractor performing bookkeeping functions for American Title Works, a title agency with offices in Clinton Township, Livonia and Southfield. Over the course of five years, McAlpine stole checks totaling over $800,000 that were made payable to American Title Works and funded by buyers and sellers of real estate, and/or from lending institutions that granted loans to buyers. McAlpine also stole checks totaling almost $1.5 million that were drafted from American Title Works escrow accounts. As a result of McAlpine’s embezzlement from its escrow accounts, American Title Works went out of business resulting in the loss of employment for its almost 30 employees.

McAlpine pled guilty on June 12, 2008 to Interstate Transportation of Stolen Money.

In addition to the prison sentence, Federal District Court Judge Arthur J. Tarnow also ordered McAlpine to pay restitution of $2,293,266.68.

Acting U.S. Attorney Berg thanked the FBI for their assistance in the successful investigation of the case. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Frances Carlson and Sarah Cohen.