Fired Maryland Accountant Guilty of $1M Theft, Arson

Federal prosecutors say a former accountant for a Maryland real estate law firm pleaded guilty to stealing more than $1 million and burning the firm’s offices.

Thirty-three-year-old George Perez of Dundalk pleaded guilty Wednesday to theft and arson charges. Prosecutors say the April 2007 fire caused $800,000 in damage to the law firm six days after it fired Perez.

Federal prosecutors said Perez was hired in January 2004 to track money from foreclosure sales and disbursements in the firm’s escrow account. From December 2005 to April 2007, Perez was accused of transferring $1,044,309 into personal accounts, using the money to pay gambling debts and buy real estate.