FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACTAUSA VICKIE E. LEDUC or MARCIA MURPHY at 410-209-4885

MAY 17, 2007

EMPLOYEE SENTENCED TO PRISON FOR DEFRAUDING COMPANY OF NEARLY $400,000

Baltimore, Maryland - U.S. District Judge J. Frederick Motz sentenced Patrick McDevitt, age 38, of Timonium, Maryland, today to 30 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release for wire fraud arising from a scheme to submit approximately $399,537 in false claims to his employer for reimbursement of expenses that he did not incur, announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein. Judge Motz also imposed a restitution judgement of $399,537 and ordered that 12 Rolex watches McDevitt purchased with the fraud proceeds should be sold to help repay the money that McDevitt owes to his employer.

“This case demonstrates the ability of the internet to help expose criminals,” said United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein.

According to the plea agreement, McDevitt was employed at SAFT America Inc. as a communications manager. He worked out of the Cockeysville, Maryland office, but the advertising and promotions services he provided required him to travel to trade shows around the United States. From March 2005 to February 2006 McDevitt submitted invoices to his employer for promotional expenses that he did not incur. He also falsified signatures on documents to make it appear that certain requests for reimbursement had been approved. As a result of this scheme, McDevitt wrongfully obtained and caused the loss of approximately $399,537 from SAFT America Inc.

McDevitt’s sentence was increased as a result of additional fraud and bad check charges that came to the government’s attention after the victims saw the government’s press release about McDevitt’s guilty plea and a related news article originally published in the Baltimore Sun on the internet.

Judge Motz found that McDevitt had violated his plea agreement by continuing to commit crimes while awaiting sentencing. According to court documents, McDevitt recently attempted to defraud an individual in Texas by agreeing to sell a Rolex watch over E-Bay. After the individual mailed McDevitt a $3,999 check for the Rolex, McDevitt mailed a watch-winder worth only $279.

In addition, McDevitt has been charged in Montgomery County, Maryland, in Baltimore County, Maryland and in York County, Pennsylvania for purchasing additional Rolex watches using bad checks. United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein praised the investigative work performed by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Mr. Rosenstein thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Leotta, who prosecuted the case.