SYRACUSE -- A Marcellus man is facing federal wire fraud charges.
Gregory Slater, 35, is charged with two counts of mail fraud. He was indicted last week by a federal grand jury.
Prosecutors say Slater helped Donald Geiss, Jr. carry out a fraud scheme against Geiss' employer, Intertek Testing Services, Inc. in Cortland.
According to the indictment, Slater allowed Geiss to use his name and social security number to prepare fraudulent invoices which were submitted to Intertek.
The invoices indicated Slater was a certified industrial hygienist who had performed services for Intertek. Instead, prosecutors say, Slater was not a certified industrial hygienist and the invoices sought payment for work that was never done.
The indictment also says between 2001 and 2006, Intertek issued checks payable to Slater totaling $432,200 for services he supposedly provided to Intertek, but which were never provided.
For each year, 2002 through 2006, Intertek reported to the IRS the payments it made to Slater. Prosecutors say Slater helped Geiss in a scheme to defraud by making arraignments with him to pay the taxes due for each year 2002 to 2005. By paying the taxes, prosecutors say Slater aided and abetted Geiss' scheme by allowing himself, Geiss and other to disguise and conceal the nature and extent of the scheme to defraud Intertek.
Geiss, Jr. plead guilty in February 2010 to charges related to the case, admitting he submitted fraudulent invoices and collected payments in excess of $1.6 million during the scheme.
If convicted, Slater faces a maximum of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
