BIRMINGHAM – A Woodstock man who worked as the head security guard at a national office-supply store distribution center in McCalla pleaded guilty today to charges related to his stealing and selling computer software with a retail value of about $600,000, announced U.S. Attorney Joyce White Vance, IRS, Criminal Investigation Division, Special Agent in Charge Rodney E. Clark, and Atlanta Division U.S. Postal Inspector In Charge Keith Morris.

WALTER SKROBAK, 38, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge R. David Proctor to one count of interstate transportation of stolen goods and one count of making false statements with respect to a federal tax return.

“Skrobak was placed in a job to protect the goods and operation of a national company doing business in our community. In his ongoing crime, he instead stole from that company and from honest taxpayers,” Vance said. “Federal investigators and the U.S. Attorney’s Office are committed to protecting commerce and the U.S. Treasury.”

“The Internal Revenue Service, our law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney's Office will continue to pursue those who attempt to fraudulently obstruct or impede our nation's tax system," Clarke said. “IRS Criminal Investigation is committed to pursuing those individuals who willfully attempt to defeat our income tax system."

According to his plea agreement, Skrobak worked at the OfficeMax Powermax facility in McCalla as a contract security guard and was the security company’s head guard at the distribution center from August 2006 to December 2010. Between October 2008 and November 2010, Skrobak stole at least 1,600 units of computer software, such as Microsoft Office Professional and Windows Vista software, and sold them, via PayPal, to a party residing out of state, the plea agreement states. Skrobak received nearly $400,000 from selling the stolen goods, but did not report the money on his federal tax returns, causing a tax loss to the government.

Skrobak could receive a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing likely will be scheduled for March.

The IRS Criminal Investigation Division and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated the case.

 

 

 

 

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