Former Property Manager Sent to Prison for Defrauding Homeowner Associations

     PHOENIX – Harlow White, 77, of Gilbert, Ariz. was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge John J. Tuchi to 15 months in prison and ordered to pay $291,420 in restitution.  White had previously pleaded guilty to money laundering for using stolen client funds to enrich himself.   White will self-surrender to custody at a date to be determined by the court.

     White was the President and CEO of Eagle Property Management, Inc., a property management company whose clients included Homeowners Associations throughout the metropolitan area.  In 2005, ownership transferred to White’s daughter and the company began operating as EPMI.  Between January 2010 and May 2014, EPMI - with White’s knowledge stole at least $1.2 million directly from HOA clients’ bank accounts.  The stolen money was used, in part, to cover approximately $300,000 in personal charges on White’s American Express credit card. 

     “Harlow White abused the trust of the clients he was supposed to serve, using their money to pay for his own personal expenses,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth A. Strange. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to protecting the community by prosecuting financial crimes like these, and today’s prison sentence will serve as a warning to business owners who may be considering illegal schemes.”

     “This defendant and his co-conspirators abused their positions for their own personal benefit by taking advantage of hundreds of homeowners throughout the Valley,” said Rodney Wellman, Acting Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Secret Service Phoenix Field Office.  “Today’s sentencing is a reminder that the Secret Service is committed to aggressively investigating and pursuing financial crimes.”

     “This is yet another example of a businessperson knowingly using a company bank account to pay his personal expenses,” stated IRS-Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Ismael Nevarez Jr. “The sentencing of Mr. White will serve to discourage other business owners from doing the same while delivering justice to those who do business in an ethical manner."  

     The investigation in this case was conducted by U.S. Secret Service and Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation. The prosecution was handled by Monica B. Edelstein, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

CASE NUMBER:         CR-17-01228-JJT           

RELEASE NUMBER:    2019-009_White

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