Wire fraud is a federal criminal offense highly regarded by the U.S. government and its courts under the wire fraud statute 18 U.S.C. 1343. If you are looking for a federal criminal defense lawyer in Burlington, contact the Criminal Lawyer Group today.
Ryan Wall, a 42-year old resident of Florida (and a former resident of Quechee), has been indicted with charges of violation of the 18 U.S.C. 1343 statute following prosecution from Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Waples. The violated statute is a fraud scheme which spells any intention to devise any artifice to defraud, or “obtain money or property by means of false or fraudulent pretenses, representations, or promises, and transmits or causes to be transmitted by means of wire, radio, or television communication in interstate or foreign commerce, any writings, signs, signals, pictures, or sounds for the purpose of executing such scheme or artifice.”
The United States Attorney for the District of Vermont announced the proceeding and allegations surrounding the charge, stating that from investigations, it was revealed that so far, Ryan had allegedly devised a fraudulent scheme that has robbed at least 18 victims, leading to financial damages amounting to the tune of an estimated $1.2 million. Damages included the loss of businesses, delayed retirements, and bankruptcy.
According to the court records, Ryan was the sole employee of TSBS Payroll, the payroll processing subsidiary of TSBS, L.L.C. This company is located in the Upper Connecticut River Valley, offering tax preparation and payroll processing services to some 35 residents of both Vermont and New Hampshire. The indictment of Ryan Wall leading to his arraignment before the U.S. District Courts follows his embezzlement of funds entrusted to TSBS Payroll by its clients. He allegedly paid these funds to himself and issued several checks to a third party. This is alleged to have gone on for a period of not less than six years, beginning from March 2012, spanning up until September 2018.
Wall violated all four elements of the wire fraud statute. These include: the defendant intentionally devised a scheme to defraud others of their money; the defendant acted out of the intent to defraud; it was reasonably foreseeable that interstate wire communications would be used; the interstate wire communications were indeed used.
Wall has also been charged with violating the federal law, which states that anyone “who is an unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance” is prohibited from possessing firearms. Investigations revealed Wall allegedly used some of the embezzled funds to purchase unlawful narcotics such as crack cocaine, heroin, and prescription opiates, in addition to the possession of firearms.
The charges leveled against Ryan Wall face further indictment if other victims file claims in addition to the already recorded 18 victims. Assistant Federal Public Defender McColgin will be representing Ryan Wall to defend his case in the United States District Court in Rutland, presided over by Chief Judge Geoffrey Crawford.
