Man Sentenced for Retaliation Against Federal Officer

RICHMOND, Va. – A Chester man was sentenced today to 71 months in prison for retaliating against a federal agent by false claim, and bankruptcy fraud.

Shapat Nabaya, aka Norman Abbott, 60, was convicted by a federal jury on Oct. 19, 2017. According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Nabaya filed numerous civil lawsuits and a false mechanic’s lien against an IRS revenue officer in retaliation for the officer filing a lien on Nabaya’s pension after Nabaya had failed to pay his federal taxes for several years. Nabaya also filed a false involuntary bankruptcy petition against the same revenue officer in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.

Tracy Doherty-McCormick, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Kimberly Lappin, Special Agent in Charge, Washington, D.C. Field Office, IRS-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge M. Hannah Lauck. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gabrielle Michalak and Jessica D. Aber prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:17-cr-03.