United States Attorney Richard G. Frohling of the Eastern District of Wisconsin announced that on February 1, 2022, a federal grand jury returned a ten-count indictment against Chad M. Schampers (age: 38) and Gina L. Schampers (age: 36), both of De Pere, Wisconsin; Nathaniel R. Smith (age: 39) of Oconto, Wisconsin; and Jeffrey M. O’Brien (age: 33) of Shawano, Wisconsin. All four defendants are charged with conspiracy to commit wire and bank fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1349, and nine counts of wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343.
The conspiracy count carries a maximum of 30 years’ imprisonment and up to a $1,000,000 fine. The wire fraud counts each carry a maximum of 20 years’ imprisonment and up to a $250,000 fine.
The defendants operated and worked at a home remodeling business named Summit Contracting, Inc. The indictment alleges that the defendants induced Summit’s customers to unwittingly apply for high interest financing based on false information and sign forms which falsely stated that work on their remodeling projects had already been completed. It is further alleged that, contrary to the terms of these finance agreements, the defendants withdrew funds from customers’ finance accounts prior to performing any work or, in some cases, even prior to ordering the building supplies. The defendants are alleged to have caused a loss of $1,500,000 as a result of their fraud.
This case was investigated by the Brown County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Julie F. Stewart and Daniel R. Humble.
An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and are entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove them guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
