Ex-Weber Shandwick CFO imprisoned 4-plus years for embezzlement
By 
Adrianne Appel2022-12-08T00:07:00
The former chief financial officer and chief operating officer of public relations firm Weber Shandwick was sentenced to more than four years in prison and ordered to pay more than $26 million for a nearly decade-long embezzling scheme.
Frank Okunak pleaded guilty July 27 in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York to one count of wire fraud and one count of falsification of the books and records of a public corporation related to his embezzlement of $16 million from the firm. The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced his sentencing Tuesday.
The DOJ did not name the firm where Okunak worked but multiple media reports identified it as Weber Shandwick, a subsidiary of Interpublic Group.
THIS IS MEMBERS-ONLY CONTENT
You are not logged in and do not have access to members-only content.
If you are already a registered user or a member, SIGN IN now.
Related articles
-
ArticleGeopolitical risks and global threats drive emerging national security compliance teams
Geopolitical uncertainty is becoming the defining feature of the decade, and global powers are increasingly using geo-economic power to promote national interest and defend their critical interests. Multinational companies, consultants, and global law firms are responding by setting up dedicated national security teams.
-
ArticleNew report shows how illegal mining intersects with financial crimes
Hundreds of billions of dollars in illicit funds move through the global financial system each year through the operations of environmental crimes linked to transnational criminal organizations. Illegal mining, in particular, directly exposes global financial institutions to a wide range of risks.
-
ArticleHow to establish an anti-corruption and anti-bribery compliance program
The U.K. unveiled a new Anti-Corruption Strategy in December 2025, just as the EU unveiled its first Anti-Corruption Directive. Both jurisdictions have signalled that they are keen to push back on rising risks of corruption. But many organizations have no formal anti-corruption measures. Where should compliance start?
More from Regulatory Enforcement
-
ArticleCMA holds companies responsible for false claims, fake reviews ‘throughout supply chain’
Companies face large fines if they spread false marketing claims or fake reviews about their products and services—as well as those by suppliers—under a toughened competition regime in the U.K. aimed at enhancing consumer protection.
-
ArticleFTC warns VISA and other processors that company policies may lead to debanking
Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, and Stripe have received letters from the Federal Trade Commission, warning the companies to end any policies or terms of service that may result in the “debanking” of customers.
-
ArticleDOJ makes good on corporate-friendly enforcement policy with Balt resolution
The ink was barely dry on the U.S. Department of Justice’s new corporate enforcement policy (CEP) when the agency announced it would not prosecute Balt SAS for alleged bribery violations.