“The following named individuals have been charged with a federal crime or crimes by the return of an indictment by the Grand Jury. A grand jury Indictment does not constitute evidence of guilt. A grand jury Indictment is a method of bringing formal charges against the defendant. A defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and may not be found guilty unless evidence establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. United States Sentencing Guidelines may be considered, upon conviction, by the sentencing court. Federal prison sentences are non-parolable"
Muskogee, Oklahoma - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, announced that CHRISTOPHER JACOB FROEHLICH, age 28, of Sallisaw, Oklahoma was arraigned in federal court today.
The defendant has been charged with six counts of Wire Fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343, punishable by up to 20 years imprisonment and/or up to a $250,000.00 fine; six counts of Aggravated Identity Theft, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1028A(a)(1), punishable by 2 years imprisonment consecutive to any other sentence imposed and/or up to a $250,000.00 fine; and two counts of Uttering A Counterfeit Security With Intent To Deceive, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 513(a), punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment and/or up to a $250,000.00 fine.
The Indictment filed on Sept. 10, 2014, alleges that from Dec. 25, 2013 to March 30, 2014 the defendant devised and intended to devise a scheme to defraud various individuals and financial institutions. The defendant used fraudulently obtained personal identification information to create false online accounts at financial institutions. The defendant also uttered counterfeit checks for mobile deposit intending to defraud.
The charges arose from an investigation by the United States Postal Service and the United States Secret Service.
The Honorable Kimberly E. West, Magistrate Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, in Muskogee, presided over the hearing. The defendant was remanded into the custody of the United States Marshal Service.
Assistant United States Attorney Chris Wilson represented the United States.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
