A federal grand jury returned a three-count wire fraud indictment March 11 against Jeffrey Lamson, 51, of El Dorado Hills.

According to court documents, from at least 2009 through 2011, Lamson embezzled more than $400,000 from a company located in Placer and Sacramento counties while he was controller. Lamson used company funds to make unauthorized payments to himself and others and made payments to a fictitious vendor, controlled by Lamson, for services that were never performed.

If convicted, Lamson faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gain or loss caused by the fraud.

— Lake Tahoe News staff report