FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT

AUSA VICKIE E. LEDUC at 410-209-4885  

November 86, 2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                  

http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/md                                       

SHADYSIDE INSURANCE ADJUSTER PLEADS GUILTY TO

STEALING EMPLOYER FUNDS

Funneled Money Through Church Choir Account

Baltimore, Maryland - Terrance A. Tasker, age 36, of Shadyside, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to transporting money across state lines that he stole from his insurance company employer, announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein.

According to the plea agreement presented to the court, Tasker, a former claims adjuster for Nationwide Insurance, created fake claimants for claims he was investigating for Nationwide. Tasker would transmit an electronic payment authorization to Nationwide in Columbus, Ohio, directing payment to the fictitious claimant. Pursuant to Tasker’s instructions, from March 2001 to November 2003, Nationwide sent 47 checks totaling $118,637.16 to a post office in Churchton, Maryland. Tasker endorsed the checks sent to the post office in the name of “Unlimited Praise,” a choir of which he was the treasurer, and deposited the checks into the choir’s bank account. Tasker would then withdraw the deposited money for his own personal use or write checks from that account to credit card companies for balances owed by him.

Tasker faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison followed by 3 years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake scheduled sentencing for February 9, 2007 at 2:00 p.m.

United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the investigative work performed by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Tonya Kelly Kowitz, who is prosecuting the case.

This page last modified—November 8, 2006