Phoenix Woman Sentenced to Prison for Defrauding Local Charities

     PHOENIX – This week, U.S. District Judge G. Murray Snow sentenced Mary Bauer (aka Mary Almassy) to 33 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release.  Bauer was also ordered to pay more than $1 million in restitution.  Bauer had previously pleaded guilty to wire fraud. 

     Bauer defrauded nearly two dozen local and national charities out of more than a million dollars in consulting fees.  Bauer held herself out as an experienced fundraiser who could help charities get large donations from wealthy philanthropists.  Bauer falsely claimed that she and her employees and associates had special access to certain out-of-state donors who wanted to make large charitable gifts.  Those donors did not exist.  Bauer made up the fictitious donors, as well as fictitious employees and associates, and fabricated numerous documents to conceal her fraud and lull her victims into continuing to pay her large monthly fees.  Bauer’s victims include charities dedicated to curing debilitating diseases, educating Arizona’s schoolchildren, and rehabilitating injured wildlife.

     “Frauds against charities are far-reaching, because they hurt not only the organizations, but the people the charities seek to serve, and the persons who have given to support the cause,” stated Elizabeth A. Strange, First Assistant U.S. Attorney.  “Our office will continue to aggressively prosecute anyone who targets charitable organizations.”

     “A prison sentence is very appropriate for someone who defrauded organizations dedicated to charitable causes and especially someone that took numerous steps to try to conceal her fraudulent activity,” said Ismael Nevarez Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the Phoenix Field Office of IRS-Criminal Investigation.

     The investigation in this case was conducted by the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation.  The prosecution was handled by Bridget Minder, Frank Galati, and Monica Klapper, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

CASE NUMBER:           CR-16-001157-GMS           

RELEASE NUMBER:    2017-125_Bauer

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