Aurora Man Found Guilty by Jury for His Involvement in a Scheme to Steal Over $700,000 from Great-West Insurance

DENVER—A jury on Tuesday found David I. Hillman, age 30, of Aurora, Colorado, guilty of money laundering and making false statements to IRS and FBI agents, United States Attorney David Gaouette, IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Christopher Sigerson, and FBI Special Agent in Charge James Davis announced. The jury verdict came following a five-day jury trial before U.S. District Court Judge Philip A. Brimmer. The jury deliberated for one and a half hours before reaching their verdict. Hillman is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Brimmer on February 19, 2010.

David I. Hillman was indicted by a federal grand jury in Denver on April 20, 2009. That indictment was sealed pending Hillman’s arrest, which took place on June 3, 2009.

According to the indictment, as well as facts presented to the jury during trial, in September 2001, and continuing through August 2005, David Hillman conspired with another person to engage in money laundering.  Specifically, the defendant was found guilty of conspiring with an employee of Great-West Life and Annuity Insurance to embezzle and spend over $700,000 in stolen funds, including a 1999 Nissan Skyline R34. The defendant and the Great-West Life employee illegally obtained the money via wire fraud.

On September 8, 2008, Hillman knowingly made materially false, fictitious, and fraudulent statements to the FBI and IRS Criminal Investigations when asked about the source of the funds.

“In the end, crime and greed do not pay,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge James Davis. “The FBI and IRS worked hand-in-hand with the United States Attorney’s Office to ensure justice was served in this case.”

“IRS Criminal Investigation is committed to ‘following the money trail’ to ensure those who engage in illegal activities like embezzlement are vigorously investigated and brought to justice,” said Christopher M. Sigerson, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Denver Field Office.

Hillman faces not more than 10 years in federal prison, and up to a $250,000 fine for each count of conspiracy to commit money laundering and engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from specified unlawful activity and aiding and abetting. He also faces not more than five years in federal prison, and up to a $250,000 fine for making false statements to federal agents. Lastly, Hillman faces forfeiture of a 1999 Nissan Skyline.

This case was investigated by Special Agents with the IRS Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Hillman was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tim Neff and Jaime Pena.