TWO CHARGED WITH EMBEZZLING FROM THEIR EMPLOYER

Kevin J. O'Connor, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that a federal grand jury sitting in Hartford returned a seven-count indictment against ROBERT L. KELLER, JR, age 47, of 10 Wilson Street, Danbury, formerly of Oxford, Connecticut, and MICHAEL J. MAZZARIELLO, 42, of 22 Deerhill Road, Hamden, Connecticut, charging them with three counts of embezzlement, three counts of mail fraud, and one count of conspiracy to defraud the Internal Revenue Service.

KELLER, and MAZZARIELLO, were both employed at New York Life Insurance Company, KELLER as a Corporate Vice President, and MAZZARIELLO as an Executive Vice President. The indictment alleges that from November1, 1998 through January 29, 2001, KELLER and MAZZARIELLO devised and executed a scheme to defraud New York Life Insurance Company, of money and property in excess of $318,000 by directing a computer consultant to submit false and fraudulent invoices to New York Life Insurance Company and by approving these invoices for payment. According to the indictment, KELLER and MAZZARIELLO also directed the computer consultant to provide them with cash, cashier's checks, money orders, and checks to KELLER's creditors, and high-end computer equipment and electronic equipment which were paid for with funds from the false billing scheme. KELLER and MAZZARIELLO are also charged with embezzling approximately $9,000 by submitting false invoices which caused New York Life to pay for three years of Direct TV service to their homes. Further, the indictment alleges KELLER and MAZZARIELLO conspired to defraud the Internal Revenue Service by not reporting on their tax returns the income obtained through the false billing scheme, and concealing this income from the IRS by keeping it out of their own names.

"This case underscores the United States Attorney's Office's dedication to the investigation and prosecution of fraud in the corporate setting," stated U.S. Attorney O'Connor. "We will continue to vigorously investigate and prosecute cases of fraud whether it is against a corporation, company or individual," he added.

If convicted of the embezzlement counts, the defendants face up to ten years of imprisonment and a $250,000 fine on each count. If convicted of conspiracy or mail fraud, the defendants face up to five years of imprisonment and a $250,000 fine on each count.

U.S. Attorney O'Connor stressed that an indictment is only a charge and not evidence of guilt. The defendants are entitled to fair trials at which it is the Government's burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Leonard Boyle and Anastasia Enos.

CONTACT:

U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
Delcie Thibault
Public Information Office
(203)821-3722 Office
(203)627-1082 Cell