Anatomy Of A Fraud

Most fraud victims clam up. In this check-tampering case, the victim-a small-business owner-decided to speak out. The resulting cautionary tale offers a rare, detailed look into the mechanics and psychology of fraud. And its aftermath.

On Sept. 21, Jackson was scheduled to appear in court on The Rosen Group and Salvation Army frauds. Regardless, his game is already over. Jackson appeared in court Aug. 17 on the charges stemming from the incidents after he left The Rosen Group. He waived his right to a trial by entering a nonguilty statement of facts. The judge was in no mood. Guilty. Concurrent sentences: Theft, 18 months. Uttering false documents, five years. According to one person in court that day, Jackson was not smiling.

It should have been a righteous moment for Wendy Rosen. But instead, all Rosen felt was anger. The charges stemming from The Rosen Group fraud were still pending. Plus, Rosen was hemorrhaging tens of thousands of dollars in billable hours fending off the Spherion lawsuit. "It's not about money," Rosen says, seemingly still in her drive state. "It's about a system that makes people want to just cut their losses and walk away. Until everyone is doing their job, until everyone is accountable, fraud will continue to harm businesses. My intent is to spend money to make sure this doesn't happen to others.

"It's not over yet," Rosen says. "That's all I can really tell you."