Man Who Defrauded Numerous Oil Companies And Oil Customers Pleads Guilty To Federal Fraud Charge

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MARC CANNON, 40, of Bridgeport, waived his right to indictment and pleaded guilty today before Chief U.S. District Judge Janet C. Hall in New Haven to one count of wire fraud stemming from a scheme to defraud both oil companies and individuals whose oil deliveries he fraudulently brokered. 

According to court documents and statements made in court, between approximately February 2010 and April 2011, CANNON, sometimes known as “Marc the Oil Man,” engaged in a scheme to defraud heating oil companies and to obtain money from individuals who received oil deliveries.  CANNON posed as a retail customer when dealing with oil companies, and as a bargain oil seller when dealing with property owners.  As part of the scheme, CANNON would make an offer to a property owner to sell oil at below market cost in exchange for a cash payment.  Then he would contact a retail oil company, set up a fraudulent account using stolen personal identifying information, and place an order for the oil company to deliver home heating oil to a property owned by the property owner.  The oil would be delivered to the property as ordered.  CANNON would then collect cash for the delivery from the property owner, but he did not remit this payment to the oil company.  When the oil company contacted the property owner to collect payment for the oil, the company would discover that the property owner had already made payment to CANNON.

Judge Hall scheduled sentencing for December 3, 2014, at which time CANNON faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.

CANNON was originally charged in a criminal complaint that was issued on April 13, 2011, and he was a fugitive until his arrest on January 30, 2014.  He is currently released on a $100,000 bond.

This matter has been investigated by the United States Secret Service, the Connecticut Financial Crimes Task Force, the North Haven Police Department and the North Branford Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Krishna R. Patel.

PUBLIC AFFAIRS CONTACT:

U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
Tom Carson
(203) 821-3722
thomas.carson@usdoj.gov