Tallahassee Man Indicted for Scheme to Defraud Using Fraudulent State Court Order

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA– Pamela C. Marsh, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced today that Frank William Johannissohn, 66, of Tallahassee, Florida, has been charged by a federal grand jury with mail fraud, possession of an authentication feature with intent to defraud the United States, making false statements to the United States Office of Personnel Management, and aggravated identity theft.

The indictment alleges that on or about July 26, 2013, Johannissohn mailed a fraudulent “Redress of Alimony” order bearing the forged signatures of a Wakulla County circuit court judge and a deputy clerk of the court to the United States Office of Personnel Management, as well as a certification stamp of the Wakulla County Clerk of the Court.  According to the Indictment, Johannissohn mailed the fraudulent document in an attempt to obtain approximately $10,000 in additional retirement payments for every year of his retirement.  Specifically, the fraudulent “Redress of Alimony” purportedly ordered the termination of Johannissohn’s obligation to provide health insurance for his former spouse, to pay for a survivor benefit under his federal retirement annuity for his former spouse, and to pay alimony to his former spouse.

If convicted on Count One of the Indictment charging mail fraud, Johannissohn faces a term of imprisonment of not more than 20 years, a period of supervised release of up to 3 years, a fine of up to $250,000, and a $100 special monetary assessment.  If convicted on Counts Two (possession of an authentication feature with intent to defraud the United States) and Three (using a false writing and document) of the Indictment, Johannissohn faces on each of these counts a term of imprisonment of not more than 5 years, a period of supervised release of up to 3 years, a fine of up to $250,000, and a $100 special monetary assessment.  If convicted on Count Four of the Indictment charging aggravated identity theft, Johannissohn faces a term of imprisonment of 2 years that must run consecutive to any term of imprisonment imposed for Counts One and Two, a period of supervised release of up to 1 year, a fine of up to $250,000, and a $100 special monetary assessment. 

The Indictment results from an investigation by the United States Office of Personnel Management’s Office of Inspector General with the assistance of the Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office and the Leon County Sheriff’s Office.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jason Beaton.

An indictment is merely an allegation by a grand jury that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt.  All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.