Dallas Technology Company’s Former Lead Systems Engineer Pleads Guilty to Mail Fraud and Money Laundering Charges

DALLAS — Albert Shih-Der Chang, the former Lead Systems Engineer for a Dallas technology company known as One Technologies, appeared in federal court this morning and pleaded guilty, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Paul D. Stickney, to one count of mail fraud and one count of money laundering. The announcement was made today by U.S. Attorney John Parker of the Northern District of Texas.

Chang, 36, of Fairview, Texas, will remain on bond pending sentencing. The date for the sentencing hearing has not yet been set. Chang faces a maximum statutory penalty of 30 years imprisonment for the mail fraud count and 10 years imprisonment for the money laundering count. Each count provides for the possibility of a fine of up to $250,000. An order of restitution is mandatory under the law, and will be determined at sentencing. The indictment also included a forfeiture allegation that would require the defendant, upon conviction, to forfeit any property that constitutes or was derived from proceeds traceable to the fraud, including his residence in Fairview.

In his Plea Agreement, Chang also agreed to relinquish any ownership interest in property seized from his residence in July 2016, to include several dozen devices such has hard drives, laptops, thumbdrives, servers, and cell phones.

According to the plea documents, from approximately October 4, 2004, through August 15, 2014, Chang worked for One Technologies, initially as its Network/Systems Administrator and later as its Lead Systems Engineer. From approximately July 2008 through August 2014, Chang devised and ran a scheme to defraud One Technologies by causing the company to pay more than $2.4 million as a result of his false and fraudulent pretenses, representations and promises. Chang caused One Technologies to transfer funds, based on material representations, to financial accounts he controlled, and Chang caused One Technologies to purchase products, purportedly for the company’s use, that Chang later converted to his own use.

To carry out his scheme, Chang allegedly created fictitious companies for which he opened bank accounts or PayPal accounts. He rented mailboxes and contracted for virtual offices with mail forwarding services for the fictitious companies. He also created and submitted fictitious purchase requisitions, orders, invoices, and receipts that One Technologies paid.

According to plea documents, Chang acknowledged that the government could prove that he directly caused a loss of at least $2,152,035.60. Also, from approximately April 15, 2013, until May 30, 2013, Chang wired-transferred nearly $300,000 from his joint account at Chase Bank to a title company to purchase a residence on Stone Hinge Drive in Fairview, and that funds transfer involved the proceeds of the fraud.

The FBI was in charge of the investigation and the Fairview Police Department assisted with the arrest. Assistant U.S. Attorney C.S. Heath is in charge of the prosecution.

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