Former Bader Rutter CFO indicted on wire fraud, money laundering charges

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After an FBI investigation, Vicki Berka of Hartford was charged last week with a multi-million-dollar wire fraud and money laundering scheme. Berka, a former chief financial officer of Milwaukee’s Bader Rutter, was charged with two counts of wire fraud and two counts of money laundering.

According to the indictment, beginning around July 2014 and continuing through at least Sept. 26, 2017, Berka allegedly used her authority to initiate numerous ACH transfers from Bader’s corporate accounts into a bank account she controlled and then made false entries in Bader’s general ledger to disguise her embezzlement. After the proceeds of the fraud scheme went into her bank account, she engaged in unlawful monetary transactions by transferring and spending the proceeds.

Berka would face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for each count of wire fraud if convicted, according to the release. In addition, if convicted of the unlawful monetary transaction charges, she would face a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for each count.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Peter Smyczek.