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December 2, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Buckhannon Resident Enters Plea to
Mail Fraud Charge

CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA - A 42-year old Buckhannon, West Virginia, resident entered a plea of guilty on November 30, 2010, in United States District Court in Clarksburg before Magistrate Judge John S. Kaull.

United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, announced that CHRISTOPHER JOHN THRAIN entered a plea of guilty to one count of mail fraud. THRAIN devised a scheme to obtain money by false and fraudulent pretenses by staging motor vehicle collisions and then filing false insurance claims. THRAIN is an automobile body repair specialist and would solicit people to participate in staged collisions for which THRAIN and the other individuals would file false insurance claims. THRAIN admitted that he caused a letter to be delivered by the U.S. Postal Service containing a check in the amount of $2,706.90 and payable to the order of “Chris Thrain” which was material to the scheme to defraud. THRAIN, who is free on bond pending sentencing, faces a maximum exposure of 20 years imprisonment and a fine of $250,000.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stephen D. Warner and was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the West Virginia Insurance Commission.