Former Plant Manager Charged with ID Fraud

John Laakso, a former contractor and engineering manager at GAF Materials Corporation, has been indicted for wire fraud after allegedly creating fake vendors to embezzle over $1.3 million from the company between 2021 and 2023. Laakso's scheme involved fabricating identities and contracts, allowing him to pocket hundreds of thousands of dollars. Separately, James Henderson Kennamer, former plant manager at Integrity Foods, faces 15 felony charges including ID fraud and theft by taking, linked to a $3 million embezzlement over six years. Kennamer was fired after officials discovered he had been diverting paychecks from former employees into his accounts through false records. Additionally, Kitty Rena Smith, an office manager in Elmwood, has been indicted for theft exceeding $250,000, allegedly using her employer's credit card for personal expenses over eight years. These cases highlight serious breaches of trust by employees in various companies across Georgia and Tennessee.