William J. Edwards, United States Attorney, today announced the filing of an Information
against Joseph D. Sandella, age 60, of Ashtabula, Ohio, alleging one count of false statements. The false statements described in the filed Information arose from Sandella’s statements made to Special Agents investigating his receipt of a disability annuity benefit from the United States Railroad Retirement Board. Specifically, the Information alleges that Sandella stated that the business known as “Sandella’s Water Conditioning” was “his wife’s business” and the business did not make any money, when, as he well knew, he operated the business as the sole individual licensed to do so under the laws of the State of Ohio and he derived income from it.

The sentence in this case, upon conviction, may be determined by the Court after consideration of the advisory Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which depend upon a number of factors unique to each case, including the defendant's prior criminal record, if any, the defendant's role in the offense and the unique characteristics of the violation. In all cases the sentence will not exceed the statutory maximum and in most cases it will be less than the maximum.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert J. Patton following investigation by the United States Railroad Retirement Board, Office of the Inspector General, Office of Investigations, and the United States Treasury Office, Office of the Inspector General, Office of Investigations.

An information sets forth charges to which a defendant waives his or her right to have the case presented to a federal grand jury and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.