February 21, 2008

SECOND DEFENDANT PLEADS GUILTY TO FRAUD IN TJ MAXX AND MARSHALLS
STORES RECEIPT SCHEME

SACRAMENTO—United States Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced today that HOWARD GLOYD, 49, of Los Angeles, pleaded guilty before United States District Judge Frank C. Damrell, Jr. to two counts of wire fraud in connection with duplicate purchase receipt scheme that defrauded TJX Companies, Inc., operators of T.J. Maxx and Marshalls retail merchandise stores, of more than $70,000.

This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the U.S. Secret Service. The investigation also resulted in a conviction against LATOYA LAWSON, who last week pleaded guilty to wire fraud for with a similar scheme. (See United States v. Latoya Lawson, 2:07-CR-0474 FCD.)

According to Assistant United States Attorney Courtney J. Linn, who prosecuted the cases, from approximately 1998 through August 2006, GLOYD engaged in a duplicate merchandise return scheme. As part of his plea, GLOYD admitted that he would make an initial purchase of merchandise at T.J. Maxx and Marshalls stores in Northern California, and that the purchase transaction would generate an authentic purchase receipt. Using duplicates of these authenticate purchase receipts, GLOYD conducted approximately 270 fraudulent return transactions and received approximately $72,000 from T.J. Maxx and Marshalls.

GLOYD’s sentencing is set for April 28, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. before District Judge Frank C. Damrell. The maximum sentence for each of GLOYD’s offenses of conviction is 20 years imprisonment, and a fine of $250,000. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court
after consideration of the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables and any applicable statutory sentencing factors. LAWSON is scheduled to be sentenced before Judge Damrell on April 21, 2008, at 10:00 a.m.

more...

For more information on federal criminal defense law, contact the Law Offices of Joseph Shemaria of Los Angeles, California.