Tonawanda Man Pleads Guilty For His Role In Debt Collection Scheme

CONTACT: Barbara Burns   
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BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Greg MacKinnon, 56, of the City of Tonawanda, NY, pleaded guilty to conspiring to defraud the United States before U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara. The charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison, and a fine of $250,000.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Russell T. Ippolito, who is handling the case, stated that between June 2011, and April 27, 2017, MacKinnon operated Vantage Point Services, a debt collection business. MacKinnon and others involved in the conspiracy fraudulently and unlawfully collected on debt, earning income exceeding $10,000 every year from such criminal activity. MacKinnon, and his co-conspirators, diverted money from Vantage Point Services to other debt collection business entities controlled by the co-conspirators. The money was diverted, and made to appear as ordinary business expenses, to avoid reporting income exceeding $10,000 in any year from criminal activity and paying income taxes. 

The plea is the result of an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Thomas Fattorusso, and Homeland Security Investigations, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Scarpino.

Sentencing is scheduled for January 18, 2023, before Judge Arcara. 

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