A Marcellus man pleads guilty on wire fraud charges.
34-year-old Gregory Slater was charged with two counts of mail fraud. Today, he admitted that he helped Donald Geiss, Jr. Perpetuate a fraud scheme against Geiss' employer, Intertek Testing Services Inc. in Cortland.
Here's what federal prosecutors say happened:
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. In fact, Slater was not a certified industrial hygienist and the invoices sought payment for work that was never done.
Between 2001 and 2006, Intertek issued checks payable to Greg Slater totaling $436,000 for services he supposedly provided to Intertek, but which were never provided.
For each year, 2002 through 2006, Intertek reported to the Internal Revenue Service the payments it made to Gregory Slater. Slater assisted Geiss in the scheme to defraud by making arrangements with Geiss to pay the taxes due for each year 2002 through 2005. By paying these taxes, Slater aided and abetted Geiss' scheme by allowing himself, Geiss and others to disguise and conceal the nature and extent of the scheme to defraud Intertek.
Donald Geiss, Jr. pled guilty in February 2010 to charges related to the Intertek fraud. Geiss admitted submitting fraudulent invoices and collecting payments in excess of $1.6 million dollars during the execution of the scheme.
Slater is scheduled to be sentenced on January 17. He faces a maximum of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. He has agreed to make restitution of $436,000.
