Caleb McCreless, a 33-year-old man from Richmond, has been sentenced to federal prison for his involvement in a massive fraud scheme that resulted in losses of $17 million. Running a medical supplies business in Porter, McCreless took advantage of the nation's emergency during the COVID-19 pandemic to exploit vulnerable individuals. His greed led him to live a lavish lifestyle, complete with mansions and a Rolls Royce.
On September 21, McCreless received a 110-month prison sentence from U.S. District Judge Sim Lake, followed by three years of supervised release. In addition, he was ordered to make restitution payments totaling $36,279,780 to 11 separate victims. It was emphasized during the sentencing that the victims might never fully recover their losses, highlighting the opportunistic nature of McCreless' crime.
McCreless' fraudulent actions primarily targeted retail customers in a plot to swindle them out of medical services payments. He would accept early payments, promising to deliver premium surgical gloves that he did not possess or would send subpar items instead. This deceitful scheme continued from May 2020 until the spring of 2021, when he ran out of victims. During this period, he managed to lure millions of dollars from new victims by falsely claiming to sell gloves from a reputable Chinese company, despite having no real connection to it.
The ill-gotten money obtained through this fraudulent operation was utilized by McCreless to pay off his criminal partners and support an opulent lifestyle, including the purchase of exotic cars and a house. Unfortunately, almost a dozen victims, scattered across the country, including Texas, fell victim to this scam, resulting in a loss of over $17 million. Caleb M. McCreless is currently in custody and awaits transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility, the location of which will be determined soon.
The prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Carter, while the investigation was led by the FBI and Harris County Constable's Office Precinct 1. This case serves as a reminder of the devastating consequences of fraud and the importance of remaining vigilant during times of crisis.
