A former Tampa Tribune credit manager pleaded guilty today to stealing more than $1 million from the newspaper.
Charles T. Wilson, 59, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud and mail fraud; each charge carries up to 20 years in federal prison.
Wilson and his wife, Lynda, 48, also pleaded guilty to lying on a mortgage application, defrauding the lender of more than $400,000. The charge carries up to 30 years in prison.
Charles Wilson was fired from the Tribune in May 2008; he had worked for the newspaper since 1992.
He admitted conspiring with his wife to create a company, CCL Services, which billed the newspaper for services it never provided, including some Charles Wilson was supposed to do as part of his job.
In his position as Tribune credit manager, Wilson approved the payments to CCL Services. He also embezzled money intended for Tribune advertisers.
The conspiracy began in 1998, according to Charles Wilson's plea agreement.
Lynda Wilson, who did not plead guilty to the conspiracy, told U.S. Magistrate Thomas McCoun III that she was in the dark.
"I was not aware that it was not a legal business," she said. "That's the only thing I have to say about it."
The couple misrepresented their fraudulent income as part of Lynda Wilson's salary at her job at the Morgan & Morgan law firm. Using that false information, they obtained a $417,000 loan to build a home in Plant City in 2006, the agreement states.
As part of the plea agreement, Charles Wilson agreed to forfeit about $1.47 million in assets, including the couple's home at 5017 Webb Ranch Lane in Plant City.
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