Ex-Ørsted employee used a company credit card on a Gucci spree. Is jail time next?

PROVIDENCE – A former Ørsted North America information-technology specialist pleaded guilty Wednesday to three counts of wire fraud for using a company credit card to pay child support, purchase Gucci merchandise and cover other personal expenses.

Alfred Appiah, 34, admitted in U.S. District Court to misspending nearly $159,000 on a company credit card from June 3, 2021, to Dec. 29, 2021, while he worked for the offshore wind company’s Providence office.

Judge William Young, who came from U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts to preside over the hearing, questioned Appiah about his plea.

“I feel like it’s the right thing to do … because of the charges that was made on the card,” Appiah said.

He faces 15 to 21 months in prison under federal sentencing guidelines. His sentencing is set for May 22.

Company card used for Six Flags trip, Gucci shopping spree

Appiah began working for Ørsted, the Danish offshore wind farm developer, as an information technology technician in 2019, according to the complaint. Appiah frequently traveled in the role and was issued a MasterCard issued through Barclays Bank for company expenses.

Appiah instead used the card to pay for an array of personal expenses, including hotel stays, tickets to Six Flags, shopping at the Gucci store in Boston, package stores, beauty shops, real-estate management, insurance and child support, court documents show. In total, he made $158,850 in unauthorized purchases, federal prosecutors said.

The wire fraud counts related to three specific charges: a $614 child support payment on Sept. 21, 2021; $174 spent on Sept. 30, 2021, at Six Flags amusement park; and $3,155 spent on Dec. 8, 2021, at the Gucci store, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul F. Daly Jr.

He was fired in December 2021 after the expenses were discovered, Daly said.

Appiah worked for the U.S. District Court in Rhode Island as an information-technology support specialist from April 10, 2023, through Dec. 15, 2023, according to Chief Deputy Clerk Frank Perry.

Appiah is represented by Kensley Barrett.

Ørsted owns the Block Island Wind Farm, the five-turbine pilot project off Block Island that became America’s first offshore wind farm in 2016.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Ex-Ørsted IT specialist found guilty of using company credit card