A Florida man lost two residences, several bank accounts, and more than $2.6 million – and was sentenced to more than five years in prison – after a wire fraud conviction, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) reported this month.
Justin Michael Lewis, 39, of Ocala, Florida, was sentenced to 66 months in federal prison following his conviction in August 2021 for six counts of wire fraud, according to a DOJ news release. Lewis was convicted of defrauding a wireless carrier over more than two years by obtaining unlimited cellular data lines and reselling them at a significant markup.
"Notwithstanding the size of the corporation, fraud schemes harm companies and their customers," Jason R. Coody, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, said. "The deceptive, persistent, and sophisticated acts employed by this defendant demonstrate the danger posed to both corporations and their consumers. With the assistance of our dedicated law enforcement partners, we are committed to investigating and prosecuting those who engage in acts of corporate fraud."
Lewis' conviction followed an investigation by the FBI and IRS. Assistant U.S. attorneys Gary Milligan and David P. Byron prosecuted the case.
Lewis is alleged to have defrauded a wireless carrier between September 2015 and February 2018 by obtaining unlimited cellular data lines "through fraudulent means" and then reselling them at a 1500% mark-up, according to the DOJ.
"During most of this time period, unlimited plans were not widely available to the public," the DOJ said. "When his actions were discovered, Lewis made false representations to the carrier, created new companies in other people’s names, and submitted altered documentation to conceal his activities. Finally, he used a technique to manipulate the carrier's customer website portal to obtain unlimited data for free through accounts he had opened in other people's names."
His sentence included three years of supervised release, in addition to forfeiture of two residences and several bank accounts, a monetary judgment of nearly $1.35 million, and restitution to the victim in the same amount.
"This case is an example of the FBI's relentless effort to protect American companies and their customers," Sherri E. Onks, special agent in charge of the FBI's Jacksonville Division, said in the DOJ news release. "When individuals defraud corporations, it is ultimately citizens – the corporation’s customers – who pay the price. The FBI remains committed to pursuing investigations into corporate fraud in an effort to protect consumers from bearing the costs associated with criminal activity."
