United States Attorney James T. Jacks
Northern District of Texas

FRIDAY, JANUARY 15, 2010
http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/txn/

FORMER LIFE INSURANCE EMPLOYEE
SENTENCED TO 30 MONTHS FOR LEADING A CONSPIRACY
TO DEFRAUD HIS EMPLOYER OF MORE THAN $900,000

DALLAS — Mark Camacho, 41, of Cedar Hill, Texas, was sentenced today by Chief U.S. District Judge Sidney A. Fitzwater to 30 months in federal prison for his role in a conspiracy that defrauded his employer of more than $900,000, announced U.S. Attorney James T. Jacks of the Northern District of Texas. Judge Fitzwater also ordered that Camacho pay $932,197.32 in restitution.

In March 2009, Camacho and several other individuals were indicted for conspiracy to exceed authorized access of a protected computer and substantive counts of exceeding authorized access of a protected computer. These charges stemmed from a fraud scheme carried out by Camacho beginning in mid January 2003 until February 2004. According to documents filed with the court, Camacho, employed with Americo Life Insurance Co.’s Dallas branch at the time, recruited eight individuals to serve as recipients of deposits that Camacho unlawfully transferred from insurance agents’ commission accounts within Americo’s system. After causing each of the deposits to be made into his co-conspirators’ bank accounts, Camacho split the funds with his co-conspirators. Camacho’s access to the agents’ commission accounts was not authorized by Americo. Camacho generated more than 200 electronic fund transfers in varying amounts, totaling approximately $932,197.

Six defendants in this case have previously pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charge and have been sentenced, including: Jerry R. Castillo, 37, of Mansfield, Texas, sentenced today by Judge Fitzwater to two years and $148,353.18 in restitution. The five others include Brian Harris, 32, of Lancaster, Texas, sentenced to 18 months in prison and $344,405 in restitution; Carlos A. Rangel, Jr., 35, of Dallas, Texas, sentenced to six months in prison, five months home confinement and $149,541 in restitution; Anthony Mendez, 34, of McKinney, Texas, sentenced to four months in prison, four months home confinement and $144,586 in restitution; Philip Hughes, 34, of Wylie, Texas, sentenced to four months in prison, four months home confinement and $30,572 in restitution; and John P. Mendez, 29, of Irving, Texas, sentenced to four months in prison, 90 days home confinement, and $22,244 in restitution.

U.S. Attorney Jacks praised the excellent investigative work of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Miller prosecuted the case.

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