A federal grand jury in Louisville has indicted four men from Jefferson County, Kentucky. The indictment, returned on February 19, 2025, charges the individuals with wire fraud, wire fraud conspiracy, and aggravated identity theft.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Karen Wingerd of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, Cincinnati Field Office, and Chief Richard Sanders of the Jeffersontown Police Department.
The indictment outlines that between May 1 and November 14, 2023, Anthony Phillips (61), Aubrey Walker Sr. (50), William Walker (49), and Robert Lewis (44) conspired to defraud a company. They allegedly misrepresented themselves as representatives of the company's small business clients to make unauthorized purchases charged to client accounts. The defendants are also accused of executing this scheme through interstate commerce wires originating from the Western District of Kentucky.
Anthony Phillips faces additional charges for allegedly transferring or using another person's identification without authority during the commission of wire fraud.
The defendants appeared before a U.S. Magistrate Judge this week in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. If convicted, Anthony Phillips could face up to 26 years in prison while Aubrey Walker Sr., William Walker, and Robert Lewis each face up to 20 years. Sentencing will be determined by a federal district court judge considering guidelines and statutory factors.
It is noted that there is no parole within the federal system.
The case is being investigated by IRS CI and the Jeffersontown Police Department with Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin McKenzie prosecuting.
An indictment serves only as an allegation; all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
