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Ex-Tribune Manager, Wife On House Arrest In Fraud Case

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By ELAINE SILVESTRINI | The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 17, 2009

Charles T. Wilson

TAMPA - A former Tampa Tribune credit manager and his wife, who are accused of stealing more than $1 million from the newspaper and its parent company, have been placed on house arrest, according to court documents.

A federal judge ordered Charles and Lynda Wilson placed on electronic home monitoring because they lost their jobs following their arrests, documents state.

After being fired from the Tribune in May, Charles Wilson, 58, was working as a consultant for Gannett, another media company. Lynda Wilson, 47, worked in the law office of Morgan & Morgan, officials have said.

The couple were arrested this month on a federal mail fraud charge, accused of using their home-based credit collection company to funnel money from the newspaper over 10 years.

According to complaints filed in U.S. District Court, the Wilsons created CCL Services in 1995. From August 1998 to May 2008, they received about 129 checks totaling almost $500,000 in payments from the Tribune and its parent company, Media General, for services they never provided.

The Wilsons also are accused of diverting more than 200 checks totaling more than $571,000 that were destined for Tribune advertisers who were owed money.

Charles Wilson had worked for the Tribune since 1992.

The Wilsons have been released on $75,000 signature bond each.

Reporter Elaine Silvestrini can be reached at (813) 259-7837 or esilvestrini@tampatrib.com.

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