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Press Release

Virginia man pleads guilty to defrauding The Greenbrier through cancer scheme

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of West Virginia

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Virginia man pleaded guilty today to defrauding The Greenbrier, announced Acting United States Attorney Carol Casto. Carmelo “Carmine” Carrozza, 57, of Charlottesville, Virginia, entered his guilty plea to wire fraud.

In the spring of 2013, Carrozza began working at the resort as the Director of Fine Dining. Carrozza admitted that in June 2013, he told senior management that he had cancer. However, as he admitted, Carrozza did not have cancer. Carrozza then left the resort, purportedly to receive cancer treatment, and kept collecting his salary. He continued to receive a salary during his purported cancer diagnosis and treatments from June through mid-December 2013. During this period, Carrozza informed employees of the resort about the supposed cancer prognosis and treatments.

Carrozza admitted that instead of spending time getting cancer treatment, he obtained a position with the University of Virginia Darden School Foundation beginning in August 2013. Carrozza also admitted that he fraudulently received over $48,000 from the resort during the course of his cancer scheme, and he has agreed to pay restitution to The Greenbrier.

Carrozza faces up to 20 years in federal prison when he is sentenced on August 17, 2016.

The investigation was conducted by the FBI. Assistant United States Attorney Meredith George Thomas is in charge the prosecution. The defendant appeared before United States District Judge Irene C. Berger.

Updated May 3, 2016

Topic
Financial Fraud