A South Carolina man has been sentenced to 39 months in federal prison for his role in an embezzlement and identity theft scheme that resulted in losses of more than $1.4 million. Robin Joseph, 64, of Murells Inlet, was also ordered by U.S. District Judge Stephanie A. Gallagher to serve three years of home detention following his prison term and pay restitution totaling $1,506,211.19.
Joseph pleaded guilty on April 25, 2025, to wire fraud conspiracy and aggravated identity theft charges related to the scheme. The sentencing was announced by Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, along with Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno of the FBI’s Baltimore Field Office.
Judge Gallagher previously sentenced Valerie Joseph, Robin Joseph’s wife and co-conspirator, to 53 months in prison and one year of home detention for her involvement.
According to court documents, Valerie Joseph worked as a bookkeeper from 2003 until August 2021 at a wholesale greenhouse and garden center owned by Victim K.F., located in Caroline County, Maryland. Beginning no later than January 2011 through August 2021, Robin and Valerie Joseph conspired to defraud both the business and its owner.
The couple made unauthorized charges on three credit card accounts associated with the victims for personal expenses over more than a decade. These included American Express and Capital One accounts as well as a Lowes/Synchrony financial account.
Unauthorized purchases included over $200,000 at Walmart; more than $53,000 paid to AT&T for personal phone bills; upwards of $30,000 spent at a Japanese steak and seafood restaurant; over $116,000 paid via PayPal; more than $90,000 charged to Easton Utilities; $16,000 paid toward Chesapeake College tuition; $2,500 sent to the University of Hawaii for college expenses; and nearly $3,800 spent on cosmetics.
Charges on the Lowes account exceeded $195,000—some used for renovations at their former residence in Easton, Maryland.
Other unauthorized expenditures covered airline tickets, cruises, Airbnb stays, retail or gift cards purchased using victim accounts as well as over $33,000 in veterinary expenses—including high-end bird cages for tropical birds kept by the couple.
"U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI for its work in the investigation," according to the release. "Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Riley who is prosecuting the federal case."
Information about priorities and resources available from the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office can be found at https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/ as well as https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.
