A former Seattle-based tech worker has been sentenced to three years in federal prison after orchestrating multiple fraud schemes that targeted his employer, government relief programs, and a former romantic partner.
Westcott Francis-Curley, 31, was convicted of two counts of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. His fraudulent activities included misusing a corporate cloud account for personal financial gain, illegally obtaining pandemic relief funds, and committing identity theft.
Francis-Curley’s misconduct began in 2019 while he was employed at a Seattle technology company. Prosecutors say he exploited his position to embezzle more than $550,000, manipulating cloud computing resources and reselling them to his employer at inflated prices. Even after his fraudulent activities were uncovered and he was fired, he attempted to secure an additional $500,000 from the company.
Following his termination in 2020, Francis-Curley shifted his focus to defrauding the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)—a federal initiative designed to assist small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. He falsely claimed two businesses under his name were eligible for aid, despite neither having employees or legitimate payroll expenses. His deception led to him securing nearly $100,000 in relief funds, which he spent on personal luxuries rather than business operations.
His fraudulent activities did not stop there. In October 2022, Francis-Curley stole the identity of a former romantic partner, opening a credit card in their name and accumulating over $1,000 in unauthorized charges. Court documents indicate that the victim continues to suffer financial repercussions from the incident.
As part of his sentencing, Francis-Curley has been ordered to pay $689,675 in restitution to his former employer, the Small Business Administration, and the identity theft victim. In addition to his prison term, he will serve three years of supervised release.
Federal prosecutors emphasized the severity of Francis-Curley’s crimes, underscoring how his actions deprived businesses of much-needed financial support during a national crisis and left victims struggling with the consequences of his fraud.
