Columbia-Area Men Plead Guilty to Defrauding Bayer

COLUMBIA, SC—United States Attorney Bill Nettles stated today that Lewis Thornwell Truesdale, Jr., age 58, of Irmo, and John Wade Thompson, Jr., age 55, of Columbia, pled guilty today in federal court in Columbia to conspiracy to commit mail fraud, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1349. United States District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie accepted the plea and will impose the sentences on August 18, 2011.

Evidence presented at the hearing established that Thompson and another co-conspirator were employees of Medical Services of America (MSA), a health care provider with offices in Columbia. Truesdale owned a commercial real estate business.

Bayer Healthcare maintained a Business Development Fund to help pay marketing expenses for its products. For instance, MSA could order koozies, wrist bands, and other giveaway products through vendors and have their expenses reimbursed through the fund.

The defendants came up with a plan in which Truesdale generated fake invoices for marketing products that were never produced. Truesdale presented the fake invoices to Thompson and the other co-conspirator, who then submitted them to Bayer for reimbursement. The three illicitly obtained approximately $165,000 through their scheme.

Mr. Nettles stated the maximum penalty Truesdale and Thompson can receive is a fine of $250,000 and/or imprisonment for 20 years, plus a special assessment of $100.

The case was investigated by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Winston D. Holliday, Jr., of the Columbia office handled the case.