The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Brian Hewson, age 38, of Canadensis, Pennsylvania, was charged Tuesday by a federal grand jury in Scranton with four counts of bank fraud.

     According to United States Attorney Peter J. Smith, the Indictment alleges that Hewson wrongfully obtained checks and other banking information from clients of his contracting company and thereafter wrongfully obtained funds from the banks of his clients. The charges are felonies carrying potential prison time and fines.

     The case is part of an on-going investigation by the United States Secret Service and the Internal Revenue Service with assistance from the Northeastern Pennsylvania Insurance Fraud Task Force and the Pocono Mountain Regional Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney William Houser.

     Indictments and Criminal Informations are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

     A sentence following a finding of guilty is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

     In this particular case, the maximum penalty under the federal statute is 30 years’ imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant’s educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.

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