Former S.F. nonprofit CFO pleads guilty to embezzling $920,000+

The former chief financial officer of a San Francisco-based nonprofit trade organization, Robert Bradley Strahan, pleaded guilty Nov. 3 to wire fraud, mail fraud and tax evasion on Wednesday, according to the U.S. attorney's office and other federal officials.

Strahan, 51, admitted to embezzling more than $920,000, officials said. His guilty plea came Nov. 5 in U.S. District Court in San Francisco, before District Court Judge Thelton Henderson.

The U.S. Attorney's office, FBI and Internal Revenue Service didn't identity the organization involved, but public documents and references in court documents link Rob B. Strahan to the Marine Exchange of the San Francisco Bay Area, a membership organization that collects and disseminates shipping information, encourages discussion in the local shipping industry, and runs forums and other programs, according to its web site.

Court filings said Strahan worked for a San Francisco nonprofit trade association listed as "M.E.," from late 2007 to April 28, according to an account in the San Francisco Appeal.

Strahan admitted to writing and cashing checks payable to himself or to "cash" totaling more than $550,000 and using the association's credit cards to make unauthorized purchases of more than $250,000, officials said Thursday. He also put an acquaintance on the payroll who received $120,000 "but did almost no work," Strahan acknowledged.

In addition, Strahan did not pay income taxes on any of the money he embezzled from 2009 through 2013, resulting in $175,000 in unpaid taxes.

Strahan was arrested May 30 and has been in custody since then. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for Feb. 9.

Officials at the Marine Exchange didn't respond to questions by phone or email.

Source: San Francisco Business Times