Illinois Man Sentenced to Prison for Defrauding Local Business

TALLAHASSEE, FL—John Suehr, 44, of Palatine, Illinois, was sentenced to 15 months in federal prison today for aggravated identity theft and conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

Between 2007 and 2010, John Suehr and his co-conspirator, John “Jack” Wachowiak, 54, of Holland, Ohio, were employed as account executives for Mainline Information Systems, a Tallahassee-based reseller of computer equipment and information technology. During that time, the two men conspired to embezzle more than $700,000 from Mainline. They arranged for Mainline to purchase computer equipment ostensibly for use by Mainline clients. Wachowiak falsified e-mails and company records to make it appear that Mainline clients had ordered this equipment, when, in fact, they had not. When the equipment was delivered, Wachowiak and Suehr took possession of the items and either resold them or kept them for their own use.

Wachowiak pled guilty to conspiracy and aggravated identity theft in May of this year. In August, Suehr pled guilty to the same charges based upon his own role in the embezzlement. In September, Wachowiak was sentenced to two years in prison for these offenses. Both defendants were ordered to pay $767,746.48 in restitution to Mainline.

In announcing the sentence imposed by the court, United States Attorney Pamela C. Marsh said, “These conspirators were motivated by pure greed and ignored the human consequences of their actions. They ripped off their own company and forged client records and communications—potentially ruining the financial reputations of both the corporation and its customers. This sentence should serve as a clear warning to those who may be tempted to line their own pockets by abusing positions of trust and influence.” Ms. Marsh commended the work of the FBI for their exceptional investigative work that contributed to these convictions.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Rhew-Miller prosecuted this case.