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Press Release

Florida Man Sentenced for Wire Fraud Conspiracy Scheme

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Massachusetts
Defendant ordered to pay over $3 million

BOSTON – A Florida man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston in connection with a scheme to defraud a Massachusetts-based company by falsifying invoices.

Brian Halpern, 49, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge George A. O’Toole Jr. to time served (one day in prison) and three years of supervised release with the first 18 months to be served in home confinement. Halpern was also ordered to pay forfeiture in the amount of $1,516,186 and restitution in the amount of $3,032,272. On Aug. 12, 2021, Halpern pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, wire fraud and money laundering.

Between approximately 1998 and March 2019, Halpern and others defrauded the uniform-supply company by causing the company to pay fake invoices for products that were not actually delivered, and by diverting other products that they re-sold for their own benefit. In addition, Halpern and his co-conspirators created a fake supply company and caused the uniform-supply company to pay more than $3 million in fraudulent invoices for purported products that he knew would never be delivered or used. 

Halpern is the third person to be sentenced in connection with the conspiracy. On Sept. 8, 2021, co-conspirator Richard Ritz was sentenced to 21 months in prison and two years of supervised release. On Oct. 12, 2021, co-conspirator Keith Smedley was sentenced to three years in prison and two years of supervised release. 

United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and Joseph Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ian J. Stearns of Rollins’ Securities, Financial & Cyber Fraud Unit and First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Rhode Island Sara Miron Bloom prosecuted the case. 

Updated April 28, 2022

Topic
Financial Fraud