'I wanted to be loved': Drug company executive 'let an escort he met on Backpage.com spend $5.8MILLION on his company's credit card for plastic surgery, a mansion, failed spa businesses and a personal driver for her children'
- Scott Kennedy and Crystal Lundberg made the charges between November 2015 and March 2017
- Kennedy's former employer, Nemera, found more than 8,800 improper charges to the company credit card
- Almost $1million of the $5.8million in charges was spent on travel alone
- The couple met on classified ad website Backpages.com, when Lundberg was working as an escort
- Kennedy solicited her services between eight and ten times from 2012 to May 2015. By May 2015, Lundberg began seeking financial assistance from Kennedy
- Nemera said it became aware of possible improper financial activity by Kennedy earlier this year and he was fired in March
- FBI agents raided Lundberg's San Diego mansion in May, seizing multiple items
- Kennedy said he was duped into the purchases because he 'wanted to be loved'
A top drug company executive and an escort racked up $5.8million worth of charges on the firm's credit card, according to the FBI.
Court filings, obtained by the Chicago Tribune, showed Scott Kennedy, 43, who worked for Nemera, and Crystal Lundberg, 31, spent thousands of dollars on plastic surgery, a San Diego mansion, a chauffeur for her children, dogs and even potted plants.
The pair are both under investigation for fraud and money laundering, but records show criminal charges have not been filed against either.
Kennedy says he let Lundberg dupe him into spending the millions because he wanted to be loved and had hoped it would lead to a family.
Scott Kennedy, 43 (center), who worked for France-based Nemera, and Crystal Lundberg, 31, spent thousands of dollars on plastic surgery, a San Diego mansion, a chauffeur, dogs and even potted plants
Kennedy met Lundberg (pictured) in 2012 through the classified ad website Backpage.com. Lundberg was working as a professional escort at the time
Agents say Kennedy solicited Lundberg's (left and right) services between eight and ten times from 2012 to May 2015. By May 2015, she began seeking Kennedy's financial assistance
At first Lundberg (pictured), her two daughters and her pets moved into Kennedy's suburban home in San Diego
Soon enough, she moved into her own San Diego mansion (pictured) on Polvera Avenue, which cost $12,000-a-month in rent that the company covered
Kennedy told the FBI that he first met Lundberg in 2012 through the classified ad website Backpage.com, which advertises sexual services.
Lundberg was working as a professional escort at a time, and agents say Kennedy solicited her services between eight and ten times from 2012 to May 2015.
By May 2015, Lundberg began seeking financial assistance from Kennedy. Soon afterwards, she, her two young children, and their pets moved in with Kennedy at his suburban home.
That November, Kennedy gave Lundberg access to the company credit card for the first time after she asked for help buying Christmas gifts for her daughters, according to the filing.
Over the next 16 months, the two burned through $5.79million of company cash, authorities alleged.
Analysis conducted by Nemera found more than 8,800 improper charges to the company credit card between November 2015 and mid-March 2017.
This included money to front Lundberg's own spa known as K&K Cosmetics, plastic surgery during a stay in Miami, two Rolex watches, a personal driver for her daughters, a maid, two purebred dogs and trips to numerous locations including Bali, Hawaii, France and Costa Rica.
Almost $1million was spent on travel alone.
In November 2016 , Kennedy gave Lundberg (pictured) access to the company credit card for the first time after she asked for help buying Christmas gifts for her daughters, according to the filing
Lundberg (pictured) was given money to fund her own spa business, known as K&K Cosmetics
Analysis conducted by Nemera found more than 8,800 improper charges to the company credit card between November 2015 and mid-March 2017
In addition, $24,000 was spent for movers to haul Lundberg's potted plants from her home in Illinois to the mansion
Money was spent on two Rolex watches, a personal driver for her daughters, a maid, two purebred dogs and trips to numerous location include Bali, Hawaii, France and Costa Rica
The company also unknowingly gave $585,000 for Lundberg to spend time at a medical spa called the Royalty Room
Lundberg moved to a 7,000-square-foot-mansion on Polvera Avenue in San Diego where the company footed the $12,000-a-month rent at the mansion.
In addition, $24,000 was spent for movers to haul the woman's potted plants from Illinois.
The company also unknowingly gave $585,000 for Lundberg to spend time at a medical spa called the Royalty Room.
Kennedy told the Chicago Tribune he was duped by the escort because 'wanted to have a family'.
'I wanted to be loved and cared for. My heart kind of overrid my head and said, "Take a chance",' he said.
'Well, it blew up in my face. My mistake was trusting her. At this point, I have very little faith anything she told me ever was true.'
Nemera said it became aware of possible improper financial activity by Kennedy earlier this year. After a review, by an independent accounting firm and outside counsel, Kennedy was fired in March.
That is when the FBI confronted Kennedy. While he largely blamed Lundberg for the spending, he admitted to buying gift cards with the company card to pay for day-to-day expenses after Lundberg had allegedly maxed out his personal credit cards.
He told the agency that Lundberg had led him to believe she would eventually reimburse him as she claimed she was adopted by a wealthy family as a child and, at age 30, she would be able to access $4million.
But Lundberg, who filed for bankruptcy in 2009 reported to only about $100 in a checking account and income of about $200 a month with no mention of a trust fund.
In May, prosecutors filed a warrant to seize Lundberg's business checking account and FBI agents raided her San Diego mansion (pictured)
Kennedy said he was duped into the purchases because he 'wanted to be loved and have a family'
He told the FBI that Lundberg had led him to believe she would eventually reimburse him as she claimed she was adopted by a wealthy family as a child and, at age 30, she would be able to access $4million
But Lundberg, who filed for bankruptcy in 2009 reported to only about $100 in a checking account and income of about $200 a month with no mention of a trust fund
Kennedy agreed to cooperate with authorities, including making undercover recordings of face-to-face and telephone conversations, according to the court filing.
In May, prosecutors filed a warrant to seize Lundberg's business checking account and FBI agents raided her San Diego mansion.
According to 10News, dozens of agents in full gear with guns stormed the residence, seizing a Jaguar and white grand piano, among other things. Recent photos seem to suggest, however, that Lundberg is still living in the residence.
At the time, the mansion was the site of an estate sale advertised as 'Unexpected move for Chicago Heiress with Designer EVERYTHING'.
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