Marcellus Man Pleads Guilty to Mail Fraud

Richard S. Hartunian, United States Attorney for the Northern District of New York, announced today a Marcellus man pled guilty to wire fraud charges.

Gregory Slater, 34, of Marcellus, New York, was charged on April 20, 2011 with two counts of mail fraud by a federal grand jury sitting in Syracuse. Today he admitted that he assisted Donald Geiss, Jr. perpetrate a fraud scheme against Geiss’ employer, Intertek Testing Services, Inc., located in Cortland. Slater allowed Geiss to use his name and social security number to prepare fraudulent invoices which were submitted to Intertek. The invoices indicated that Slater was a certified industrial hygienist who had performed services for Intertek. In fact, Slater was not a certified industrial hygienist and the invoices sought payment for work that was never done. Between 2001 and 2006, Intertek issued checks payable to Greg Slater totaling $436,000 for services he had supposedly provided to Intertek, but which in fact had never been provided.

For each year, 2002 through 2006, Intertek reported to the Internal Revenue Service the payments it made to Gregory Slater. Slater assisted Geiss in the scheme to defraud by making arrangements with Geiss to pay the taxes due for each year 2002 through 2005. By paying these taxes, Slater aided and abetted Geiss’ scheme by allowing himself, Geiss and others to disguise and conceal the nature and extent of the scheme to defraud Intertek.

Donald Geiss, Jr. pled guilty in February 2010 to charges related to the Intertek fraud. Geiss admitted submitting fraudulent invoices and collecting payments in excess of $1.6 million dollars during the execution of the scheme.

Chief U.S. District Court Judge Norman A. Mordue scheduled sentencing for January 17, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. in Syracuse. Gregory Slater faces a maximum term of imprisonment of twenty years and a fine of $250,000. He has agreed to make restitution of $436,000.

The case was investigated by Criminal Investigation, Internal Revenue Service, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward R. Broton.