Former Coca-Cola Employee Charged With Fraud

ATLANTA - Jeffrey David Shamp has been arraigned on federal charges of fraud and money laundering.  He was indicted by a federal grand jury on Oct. 15, 2013.

“This defendant is charged with using corporate American Express gift checks to pay personal expenses,” said United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates.  “We will continue to ferret out those who abuse positions of trust for personal gain.”

“The United States Secret Service and our law enforcement partners work tirelessly to thoroughly investigate cases like this.  We will continue to take an aggressive approach towards those who violate the faith and trust of businesses to further their financial crime activity,” said Reginald G. Moore, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Secret Service, Atlanta Field Office.

“Mr. Shamp used deceit and fraud, in the misuse of a marketing tool intended to promote the good name of Coca-Cola, for his own personal benefit,” stated Veronica F. Hyman-Pillot, Special Agent in Charge, IRS-Criminal Investigation.  “IRS-CI is committed to unraveling financial transactions and money laundering schemes where individuals attempt to conceal the true source of their money.”

According to United States Attorney Yates, the charges, and other information presented in court:  Jeffrey Shamp worked for The Coca-Cola Company from approximately July 2002, to November 2011, most recently as a Senior National Account Executive based in Massachusetts.  In his position, Shamp was authorized to order American Express (“Amex”) gift checks to be used as part of a sales incentive program for Coca-Cola’s customers.  From approximately November 2005, through September 2011, Shamp fraudulently obtained Amex gift checks under the false pretense that the checks would be used as part of Coca-Cola’s sales incentive program, when in fact Shamp used them to pay for over $400,000 in personal expenses.

Shamp, 40, of Cincinnati, Ohio, was arraigned today before United States Magistrate Judge E. Clayton Scofield III.

The wire fraud charges in this case each carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.  The money laundering charges each carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.  In determining the actual sentence, the Court will consider the United States Sentencing Guidelines, which are not binding but provide appropriate sentencing ranges for most offenders.

Members of the public are reminded that the indictment only contains charges.  The defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government’s burden to prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

This case is being investigated by the United States Secret Service and Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation. 

Assistant United States Attorney Steven D. Grimberg and Intern Ryan Freeman are prosecuting the case.

For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.  The Internet address for the HomePage for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is www.justice.gov/usao/gan.