AAA Accountant Pleads Guilty

PORTLAND - An accountant accused of embezzling more than $2.5 million from the American Automobile Association (AAA) Oregon/Idaho has pleaded guilty to one count of federal wire fraud.

Paul Herbert Perkins, 35, appeared yesterday before U.S. District Judge Helen Frye. Sentencing was set for August 4.

Perkins faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.

Perkins had worked for AAA for nine years. He was fired in January after company officials discovered discrepancies in financial records.

Perkins made $31,500 a year, but maintained a lavish lifestyle. Perkins' attorney refused to comment yesterday.