Simple Helix is an Internet service provider in Huntsville, Alabama and its CEO Steve Shickles is facing some serious legal issues after getting caught stealing $10.2 million from the company, according to The Daily Mail. He took the funds and spent it on himself for luxuries such as lavish cars, dinners, and spas.
Shickles resigned earlier this month after getting caught of operating a PayPal account with Simple Helix’s name for over a decade. The arrest was made on Monday after authorities found out that Simple Helix filed a lawsuit where the PayPal account received $2.5 million and he pocketed $1.6. He was out on $30,000 bond.
Shickles also gave a lot of this money to his wife. Additionally, the two spent the money on clothes, private school and the number of cars bought reached 20 as they were in different warehouses around Huntsville.
Shickles is being charged with first-degree theft which could land him 20 years in prison. A lawsuit filed in Madison County says that from 2012-2019, him and his wife spent $800,000 from the PayPal account. He also refused to provide invoices on his purchases.
Simpl Helix, Deep Clue Holdings and Alpha Hosting are also seeking $10,280,675 in damages. They are all asking the judge to seize everything from these purchases. The lawsuit is accusing him of international conversion, conspiracy to commit the intentional tort of conversion, fraud, conspiracy to commit fraud, breach of contract, and breach of fiduciary duties. His wife Ronda is accused of intentional conversion, conspiracy to commit the intentional tort of conversion, and conspiracy to commit fraud.
Expect Steve to land the 20 years in prison. His wife may not get that time due not not being charged yet but prison time could be inevitable.