Ohio Man Sentenced for Aiding and Abetting His Brother in a Multi-Million-Dollar Fraud Scheme

BUFFALO, NY—U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that William W. Wilson, 23, of Columbus, Ohio, who was convicted of aiding and abetting his elder brother, Michael Wilson, in the possession of money unlawfully taken from a federally insured bank, was sentenced to 18 months’ probation by Chief U.S. District Judge William M. Skretny.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul J. Campana, who handled the case, stated that William Wilson, acting under the direction of Michael Wilson, assisted his older brother in July 2010 in obtaining $71, 875 from an investor who resided in Utah. The investor sent the money through a California-based escrow agent in two separate wire transfers four days apart. Nearly all the funds, however, were immediately frozen and later seized through the efforts of the FBI, the Internal Revenue Service, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The money subsequently was returned to the victim investor. At sentencing, Chief Judge Skretny noted that William Wilson did not benefit financially from his role in the offense.

Michael Wilson, 26, of Toronto, Ontario, is charged in a 47-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury December 2010. The indictment charges Michael Wilson with an $8,000,000 investment fraud scheme involving several companies allegedly controlled by Michael Wilson and known generally as New Frontier Holdings. Michael Wilson was arrested in Canada in July 2013 on an extradition warrant arising from the indictment. Michael Wilson’s extradition hearing in Canada is scheduled for December 12, 2013.

Today’s sentencing is the result of an investigation by special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Brian P. Boetig, and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Toni M. Weirauch.