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Paul and Sandra Dunham admit US fraud charges | Paul and Sandra Dunham admit US fraud charges |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A British couple accused of defrauding the US company they worked for have admitted the charges against them. | |
Paul and Sandra Dunham, from Collingtree, Northamptonshire, had always denied any wrongdoing and had fought extradition to the US. | |
But they admitted $1m (£640,000) of expenses fraud and money laundering in plea agreements with US authorities. | |
The pair had spent the money on a Barbados timeshare, luxury bedding and a dog sofa. | |
A US Department of Justice spokeswoman said other personal expenses, falsely described as business expenditure, included "personal legal fees, expensive furniture, and a domed pet residence". | |
In an agreement with the US Attorney in Maryland, both admitted "conspiracy to commit wire fraud". | |
Mr Dunham, 59, pleaded guilty to an additional charge of money laundering. | |
Between 2002 and 2009, the pair had charged personal expenses to their corporate credit cards when they worked for PACE, an electronics repair company. | |
They had also billed the European arm of the company for expenses they had already claimed from the worldwide arm. | |
The couple had sought to avoid extradition to the US by appealing to the High Court and the European Court of Human Rights, but their bids were rejected. | |
In May, Mr and Mrs Dunham were taken to hospital on the day they were due to report to police and be flown out of the UK. | |
On 22 May, they were handed over to US Marshalls at Heathrow's Terminal Four by officers from the Met Police's extradition unit. | |
Earlier this month, their trial in the US was postponed until next year. | |
The couple had been staying with friends in North Carolina who offered their house as collateral. | |
Mr and Mrs Dunham have agreed to pay back the $1m they claimed. | |
Mr Dunham faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for the expenses fraud and money laundering. | |
Because of her plea agreement, his wife, 58, will be sentenced to 60 days in prison. | |
The pair will be sentenced in January. |