Williamsport Man Charged With Wire Fraud

WILLIAMSPORT - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that Benjamin Butler, age 33, of Williamsport, Pennsylvania, was charged on September 26, 2019, with six counts of wire fraud.

According to United States Attorney David J. Freed, the indictment alleges that Butler engaged in a kiting scheme in September and October of 2015, whereby he allegedly used multiple credit card accounts to fraudulently pay off $18,850 of credit card charges by using the temporary credit on one card to pay off another account even though he did not have the funds to ultimately cover such a payment.

The charges stem from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General.  Assistant United States Attorney Geoffrey MacArthur is prosecuting the case.

Indictments are only allegations. All persons charged are presumed to be innocent unless and until found guilty in court.

A sentence following a finding of guilt is imposed by the Judge after consideration of the applicable federal sentencing statutes and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

Butler is facing a maximum of 20 years’ imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.  Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the Judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant; and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs. For these reasons, the statutory maximum penalty for the offense is not an accurate indicator of the potential sentence for a specific defendant.

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