Oklahoma Woman Sentenced In Connection To A Fraud Scheme

CONTACT:      Barbara Burns
PHONE:         (716) 843-5817
FAX:            (716) 551-3051

BUFFALO, N.Y.—U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Ann Nichols, 61, of Edmond, OK, who was convicted of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, was sentenced to two years probation to include eight months home detention by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara. The defendant was also ordered to pay $147,004 in restitution.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Marie P. Grisanti, who handled the case, stated that Nichols and co-defendant Donnie Helig utilized a business entity known as CED Computer Services (CED) fraudulently to obtain loans for clients in the form of equipment “leases.” Another co-defendant, Wilfredo Sanio, operated a business in Georgia known as SCF Funding, which acted as a broker and brought clients to CED Computer Services. 

Nichols and Helig falsely advised lease finance companies that CED was selling new equipment to clients and prepared fraudulent invoices for new equipment when, in fact, no equipment or inferior equipment was actually being provided.  Upon receipt of the funding from the finance companies, defendant Nichols gave a commission to Heilig, herself, and Sanio, from the lease proceeds and sent the majority of the remaining proceeds to the client.

All three defendant have been convicted and sentenced.

Today’s sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Adam S. Cohen.