January 07, 2008

VENTURA COUNTY MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO FEDERAL CHARGES OF IMPERSONATING CIA AGENT

An Oxnard man has pleaded guilty to federal charges for posing as a CIA agent and requesting money from individuals to support his “mission” in Iraq.

Larry Lee Risser Jr., 34, pleaded guilty Thursday, December 21, 2007, before United States District Judge Philip S. Gutierrez in Los Angeles. Risser pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of impersonation of an officer of the government.

According to a plea agreement filed in this case, Risser told at least three individuals in 2005 and early 2006 that he was an agent of the Central Intelligence Agency. Risser told them that he was going overseas on “missions” for the CIA. In January 2006, Risser called some of these individuals and told them that he was on a “mission” and that his “team” had come under attack. Risser requested that these individuals deposit money into his personal checking account so that he could use the money to “evacuate” his team. At least two individuals deposited at least $10,000 each into Risser’s bank account. In reality, Risser was never on any CIA missions during this time, nor was he ever employed by the CIA or any other law enforcement agency.

Risser, who is free on a $20,000.00 bond, is scheduled to appear in federal court on March 10, 2008 to be sentenced. He faces a statutory maximum sentence of 23 years in federal prison and a fine of $500,000.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

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