July 19, 2011

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HOUSTON – Jeremy Gene Dobbins, 35, and Bobby Dean Roberts, 51, have been indicted for defrauding their employer MI-SWACO, a division of Schlumberger, of more the $3 million, United States Attorney José Angel Moreno announced today. 
 
The 10-count indictment was returned by a Houston grand jury on Thursday, July 14, 2011. Dobbins was taken into federal custody following his surrender to United States Postal inspectors yesterday while Roberts surrendered today. After appearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mary Milloy today, both have been ordered released on bond pending trial.

The indictment accuses the two men of conspiring to commit wire fraud between February 2008 and June 2010, committing wire fraud and money laundering. According to allegations in the indictment, Dobbins worked for MI-SWACO as a facilities manager and Roberts worked for MI-SWACO as a supervisor of building operations. The two men allegedly formed four vendor entities to do business with MI-SWACO and caused these entities to submit false and fraudulent invoices, which they then approved for payment. All told, the indictment alleges that the defendants caused MI-SWACO to pay out more than $3.5 million in fraudulent proceeds. 

Conspiracy to commit wire fraud carries a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000 upon conviction. The remaining counts each carry a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment and a fine of up to $500,000 upon conviction.

The investigation leading to the charges was conducted by inspectors with the United States Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney F. Andino Reynal is prosecuting the case.

An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence.
A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until convicted through due process of law.