Stacey R. Guiling and Lawrence H. Garrison Press Release (Guilty Plea)

September 23, 2009
For Immediate Release

LOCAL MAN AND WOMAN PLEAD GUILTY TO FRAUD CHARGES

St. Louis, MO: A local man and woman have pleaded guilty to charges of defrauding a Creve Coeur consumer products business, Acting United States Attorney Michael W. Reap announced today.

Stacey R. Guiling and Lawrence H. Garrison were partners and co-owners of G&G Retail Consulting, Inc., which was in the business of buying consumer products from manufacturers or wholesalers and reselling the products to retailers or other wholesalers. Both worked out of their homes and did not maintain commercial office space.

Over the past several years, the business experienced significant financial trouble, worsening during 2008 and into 2009. In March 2009, they devised a fraudulent scheme to obtain money from Westin Trading, Inc., Creve Coeur, Missouri, who was in the business of consumer products sales. Garrison contacted the owner of Westin and falsely stated that G&G had secured an order of Jack Links brand food products from Save-A-Lot Foods for resale to Westin, and that they would have to prepay G&G for the food products order. Garrison fabricated emails and a purchase order, which he then sent to the owner of Westin to reassure him that the deal with Save-A-Lot Foods was legitimate. Westin agreed to prepay the Jack Links food products order in the amount of $123,506. Westin never received the Jack Links food products.

Within a week after the payment by Westin, Guiling made a series of wire transfers from G&G’s bank account totaling in excess of $100,000, including a wire transfer of $56,000 to Captain’s Cove Marine for the purchase of a boat and wire transfers of various sums to a bank account in her name and a bank account in her husband’s name.

LAWRENCE H. GARRISON, St. Charles, pleaded guilty to one felony count of wire fraud and one forfeiture count. STACEY R. GUILING, Wildwood, pleaded guilty to one felony count of wire fraud and one forfeiture count. Each appeared before United States District Judge Rodney W. Sippel.

Wire fraud carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and/or fines up to $250,000. Restitution is mandatory. Sentencing has been set for December 11, 2009, before U.S. District Judge Rodney Sippel.

Reap commended the work performed on the case by the United States Secret Service, the Creve Coeur Police Department and Assistant United States Attorneys Reginald Harris, Julia Wright and Charles Birmingham, who are handling the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

UNITED STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE EASTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI MICHAEL W. REAP Acting United States Attorney	NEWS RELEASE
For further information call (314) 539-2200
September 23, 2009 For Immediate Release LOCAL MAN AND WOMAN PLEAD GUILTY TO FRAUD CHARGES St. Louis, MO: A local man and woman have pleaded guilty to charges of defrauding a Creve Coeur consumer products business, Acting United States Attorney Michael W. Reap announced today. Stacey R. Guiling and Lawrence H. Garrison were partners and co-owners of G&G Retail Consulting, Inc., which was in the business of buying consumer products from manufacturers or wholesalers and reselling the products to retailers or other wholesalers. Both worked out of their homes and did not maintain commercial office space. Over the past several years, the business experienced significant financial trouble, worsening during 2008 and into 2009. In March 2009, they devised a fraudulent scheme to obtain money from Westin Trading, Inc., Creve Coeur, Missouri, who was in the business of consumer products sales. Garrison contacted the owner of Westin and falsely stated that G&G had secured an order of Jack Links brand food products from Save-A-Lot Foods for resale to Westin, and that they would have to prepay G&G for the food products order. Garrison fabricated emails and a purchase order, which he then sent to the owner of Westin to reassure him that the deal with Save-A-Lot Foods was legitimate. Westin agreed to prepay the Jack Links food products order in the amount of $123,506. Westin never received the Jack Links food products. Within a week after the payment by Westin, Guiling made a series of wire transfers from G&G’s bank account totaling in excess of $100,000, including a wire transfer of $56,000 to Captain’s Cove Marine for the purchase of a boat and wire transfers of various sums to a bank account in her name and a bank account in her husband’s name. LAWRENCE H. GARRISON, St. Charles, pleaded guilty to one felony count of wire fraud and one forfeiture count. STACEY R. GUILING, Wildwood, pleaded guilty to one felony count of wire fraud and one forfeiture count. Each appeared before United States District Judge Rodney W. Sippel. Wire fraud carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and/or fines up to $250,000. Restitution is mandatory. Sentencing has been set for December 11, 2009, before U.S. District Judge Rodney Sippel. Reap commended the work performed on the case by the United States Secret Service, the Creve Coeur Police Department and Assistant United States Attorneys Reginald Harris, Julia Wright and Charles Birmingham, who are handling the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.