Former Cancer Society Exec. Stole $8M

A former American Cancer Society executive pleaded guilty Friday to embezzling nearly $8 million from the charity, using the money to pay for an addition at his home and landscaping that included 35 Aristocrat pear trees.

Daniel Wiant, 35, earlier had agreed to admit to bank fraud, money laundering, mail fraud and illegal use of a credit card in the thefts that began in 1997.

"I have extremely deep regret for my action as well as the damage I have done to the American Cancer Society," he said in a statement. "I make no excuses for my actions and accept all consequences."

Wiant smiled at his wife, Kathy, who was seated in the front row, after U.S. District Judge Joseph Kinneary accepted the plea agreement.

She turned him in to authorities after he called her in June to tell her he had stolen $6.9 million from the charity by transferring it to a bank in Austria.

"Whatever the outcome of Daniel's sentencing, I will continue to love and support my husband and eagerly await his return home," Mrs. Wiant said after the court session.

No sentencing date was set for Wiant, who remains in custody.

The total maximum sentence possible for all four charges is 65 years in prison and about a $2 million fine.

The plea agreement did not call for a specific sentence, but defense attorney Victor Merullo had estimated the prison term at five to nine years, based on federal guidelines.

Authorities say that beginning in April 1997, Wiant began stealing from Cancer Society accounts what would amount to a total of about $7.9 million. He was chief administrative officer for six years at the society's Ohio division.

But they say they did not discover any money was missing until this May after Wiant secretly transferred $6.9 million from the Cancer Society to a bank in Austria.

Wiant fled to Switzerland and Austria on June 2, but returned to the United States and surrendered a week later after learning the money had been frozen. The money sent to Austria eventually was returned, but more than $900,000 has not been recovered, authorities said.

Prosecutors say Wiant set up five fake businesses that actually were personal checking accounts and wrote Cancer Society checks totaling about $650,000 to them as fake consulting expenses.

Wiant used some of the money to pay for an addition to his home, the trees for his yard, two all-terrain vehicles and to rent an apartment, authorities said.

Federal prosecutors say an unindicted accomplice, identified only as "X," lived in the apartment for several months and opened a checking account in the name of a fictitious business for Wiant. No details were available as to the nature of the relationship between Wiant and "X."

Attorney Stuart Benis said that he is fairly certain a client of his, former Cancer Society employee Debbie Cummings, is "X." Benis said Wiant offered Cummings, his administrative assistant, use of the apartment after she filed for a divorce and she was naware it was paid for with society funds.

Cummings quit the society in May.

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