New Orleans Man Indicted For Wire Fraud

NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Attorney Peter Strasser announced today that STEVEN ROLAND HANSEN, age 63, was charged on Thursday, August 22, 2019 in a five-count indictment for wire fraud in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343.

According to the indictment, STEVEN ROLAND HANSEN (“HANSEN”), started a fraudulent company, “The Reference Source, Inc.” in order to procure a postal meter from Company “A,” a national postage meter company located in Utah.  HANSEN applied for credit with Company “A” to have postage installed on the meter.  HANSEN then intentionally created inflated postage on envelopes and turned these envelopes in at post offices in the New Orleans area.  Postal money orders were issued to refund the inflated envelopes.  It was part of HANSEN’S scheme that by turning in the envelopes to the post office, he turned Company “A’s” credit into postal money orders which he could use as cash.  If convicted, HANSEN faces a maximum term of imprisonment of twenty years per count, a maximum fine of $250,000, restitution, a maximum term of supervised release of up to three years, and a mandatory $100 special assessment

HANSEN used the interstate wire system at least five times to further his scheme by making fraudulent representations to Company “A” in Utah.  Company “A,” according to the indictment lost over $2,500.00 in this scheme.

U. S. Attorney Strasser reiterated that an Indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. 

U.S. Attorney Strasser praised the work of the United States Postal Service, Office of the Inspector General, in investigating this matter.  Assistant U. S. Attorney Carter K. D. Guice, Jr. is in charge of the prosecution.

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