West Virginia Man Pleads Guilty to Interstate Transportation of Fraud Proceeds

PITTSBURGH, PA - A resident of Wellsburg, West Virginia, pleaded guilty in federal court to a charge of interstate transportation of fraud proceeds, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

James E. Miller, III, age 47, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to one count before United States District Judge Nora Barry Fischer.

In connection with the guilty plea, the Court was advised that, from November 2016 through April 2017, Miller fraudulently induced his employer in Charleroi, Pennsylvania, to issue three checks totaling $59,129.10, payable to a fictitious business that Miller had created. Miller transported two of the checks totaling $32,671.50 from Charleroi, Pennsylvania, to Wellsburg, West Virginia, knowing that the checks were taken by fraud, and deposited those checks into a bank account that he controlled.

Judge Fischer scheduled sentencing for May 3, 2019. The law provides for a total sentence of not more than 10 years in prison, a fine of not more than $250,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant United States Attorney Adam N. Hallowell is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The United States Postal Inspection Service – Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of James E. Miller, III.