Law Firm Partner Says Worker’s Alleged $1.2M Theft Forced 10 Layoffs

A payroll worker at a small Washington, D.C., law firm has been accused of stealing $1.2 million by transferring the money from her employer to her own bank accounts.

A criminal information alleges Tamika Beasley stole the money from James E. Brown & Associates, according to The BLT: The Blog of Legal Times. She listed the transfers as loans that were later repaid, according to prosecutors.

James Brown gave The BLT a statement he had provided to the Secret Service. It said Beasley’s alleged wrongdoing had jeopardized the law firm, forcing him to fire 10 employees, including Beasley’s uncle.

Brown’s own finances also were jeopardized, according to the Secret Service statement. It alleges Beasley drew on the firm’s line of credit, for which Brown has signed a personal guarantee, the BLT story says. “It will take me a life time and beyond to repay this money,” he wrote.