Maryland Man Admits Fraudulently Obtaining More Than $2 Million in Wire Fraud Scheme

CAMDEN, N.J. – The owner of a New Jersey-based scrap metal company admitted illegally obtaining more than $2 million through a multi-year scheme that victimized more than 10 businesses, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced today.

Creed White, 64, of Freeland, Maryland, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Christine P. O’Hearn on Aug. 2, 2023, to an information charging him with one count of wire fraud.

According to documents filed in the case and statements made in court:

From 2010 through September 2020, White used his Camden-based business, American Scrap LLC, to victimize at least 13 businesses. White fraudulently purported to engage in the business of shipping scrap metal. He obtained payments from certain victims for shipments of scrap metal that he never shipped and obtained scrap metal from certain victims and then failed to pay those victims for the materials he obtained. White’s scheme defrauded the victim companies of more than $2.1 million.

The charge of wire fraud is punishable by a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000, or twice the gross profits or gross loss suffered by the victims of his offense, whichever is greatest.

U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy in Newark, with the investigation leading to the guilty plea.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Desiree Grace, Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division in Newark.