Person of Indian Origin (PIO) woman charged in $20 mn fraud case

Asha Maurya along with Nathan Hardwick, 50, has been charged with conspiracy, wire fraud, and related crimes in connection with Hardwick’s alleged theft of over US$ 20 million from the attorney escrow accounts and operating accounts of Morris Hardwick Schneider and LandCastle Title (MHS), an Atlanta-based law firm and title agency in which Hardwick and Maurya once served as top executives. 

The indictment also charges Maurya with stealing approximately US$ 900,000 from the firm’s accounts to pay her own personal expenses. Maurya managed MHS’s attorney escrow account operations and other accounting operations under Hardwick’s supervision. 

In 2011, Hardwick allegedly began directing Maurya to make millions of dollars in shareholder distributions, bonuses, and other payments for Hardwick’s benefit. The indictment charges Hardwick and Maurya with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and 18 counts of wire fraud. The conspiracy, wire fraud, and mail fraud charges against Hardwick and Maurya each carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to USD 250,000 per count.