Repeat Federal Fraudster Sentenced for Wire Fraud and Identity Theft

NORFOLK, Va. – A Portsmouth man was sentenced today to 57 months in prison for a wire fraud and identity theft scheme.

According to court documents, in March 2021, Dominique M. Avery, 29, assumed the identity of another person and secured incorporation documents for a business that claimed to provide technology services, Home Technology Innovations, LLC (HTI). Avery used those fraudulently obtained documents, as well as a forged check and the personal identifying information (PII) of several other individuals, to cause an out-of-state payroll services company to make more than $150,000 in direct deposits into various bank accounts. These fraudulently obtained funds were purportedly for the salaries of HTI’s employees. In reality, HTI had no employees, and Avery was able to access and spend a substantial portion of the funds deposited into each account before the scheme was discovered. 

Avery was previously convicted of similar federal fraud offenses. Avery’s recent offense occurred only months after he completed his prior federal sentence. Avery used the PII of several of the victims in the prior case to commit these new crimes.

Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Damon E. Wood, Inspector in Charge of the Washington Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, made the announcement after sentencing by Senior U.S. District Judge John A. Gibney Jr.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony Mozzi 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 are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:23-cr-017.