Florida man accused in wire fraud conspiracy scheme to defraud a Massachusetts company

A Florida man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston in connection with a scheme to defraud a Massachusetts-based company by falsifying invoices.

Brian Halpern, 48, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, wire fraud and money laundering. U.S. District Judge George A. O’Toole Jr. scheduled sentencing for Dec. 16, 2021. Halpern was charged on May 5, 2021.

Between approximately 1998 and April 2019, Halpern and others defrauded a Massachusetts-based uniform supplier by falsifying invoices for products that were not actually delivered and diverting other products that they re-sold for their own benefit.

The charge of wire fraud and conspiracy provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of $250,000, or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater, restitution and forfeiture. The charge of money laundering provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $500,000 or twice the value of the property involved in the transaction, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors

Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sara M. Bloom and Ian J. Sterns of Mendell’s Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit are prosecuting the case.