Watertown Man Sentenced for Mail Fraud

United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that a Watertown, South Dakota, man convicted of Mail Fraud was sentenced on January 11, 2016, by U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier.

Leon J. Brandriet, age 61, was sentenced to 15 months in custody and was ordered to pay over $30,500 in restitution.

Brandriet was indicted for mail fraud by a federal grand jury on March 4, 2014.  He pled guilty on October 19, 2015.

From approximately October 2011 through December 2012, Brandriet was hired to work as an independent insurance adjuster on behalf of his client, who suffered property damage to her home in Watertown.  Under the terms of their contract, Brandriet received funds from the victim’s insurer and was supposed to pay the victim or the contractor hired to repair the property damage.  Instead, Brandreit used the money to pay for unauthorized expenses, including bar tabs, and failed to pay the victim the money she was owed.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey C. Clapper prosecuted the case.

Brandriet was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.