Description: Baltimore, Maryland criminal defense lawyer represented defendant charged with conspiracy to commit mail, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft.

From October 2015 to March 2017, Janet Sturmer, age 66, conspired with Peter Unakalu, Khalid Razaq, Brandon Ross, Saulina Eady, Saul Eady, and others to commit wire fraud by posing as navy contracted agents and convincing victim companies that conspiracy members were authorized to order specialized communications equipment without prior payment.

As part of the scheme to defraud, Sturmer and her co-conspirators used fictitious identities, fictitious business names, and the stolen identities of real individuals to lease facilities and receive fraudulently obtained goods. For example, in September 2016, Sturmer and Razaq submitted a commercial lease agreement and tenant information sheet using the name, date of birth, driver’s license, and social security number of Victim 1 without the victim’s permission or knowledge. Ultimately, Razaq and Sturmer used this rental property to obtain high-end smartphones and tablets from a victim company. Sturmer and Razaq subsequently shipped the fraudulently obtained goods to California where the products were either disposed of or sold.

Additionally, in October 2016, Sturmer rented office space located in Chantilly, Virginia for the purpose of receiving fraudulently obtained goods including, thousands of flat screen televisions and communications equipment from two victim companies. To do so, Sturmer used the stolen identity of Victim 2 and a fraudulent tax return created by Razaq. Razaq then arranged for the fraudulently obtained televisions to various store locations that Sturmer and Razaq rented using stolen identities. On one occasion, Sturmer shipped approximately 100 stolen flat screens to Ross (a co-conspirator) in California.

As stated in her guilty plea, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Sturmer’s Virginia residence. Amongst other items, law enforcement recovered stolen flat screen televisions from one victim company, cables from another victim company, shipping records, a notebook documenting the receipt and storage of stolen flat screen televisions, counterfeit identification documents in the names of real victims, at least five cell phones, and counterfeit device-making equipment.

Based on the search warrant results, surveillance footage, and business records, Sturmer and her co-conspirators caused a loss of more than $4.4 million to victim companies.

Co-defendants Khalid Razaq, Saul Eady, Saulina Eady, and Brandon Ross, were sentenced to 5 years, 4 years, 30 months, and 18 months in federal prison; respectively. As part of their sentencing, Razaq was ordered to pay over $4 million in restitution and Ross was ordered to pay $1.5 million in restitution. Troy Barbour is scheduled to be sentenced at a later date.

United States Attorney Erek L. Barron praised the DOD-OIG and HSI for their work on the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked the FBI, the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security, Office of Export Enforcement, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, and Customs and Border Protection for their work in the investigation. Mr. Barron thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph R. Baldwin and Adam K. Ake, who prosecuted the case.

Outcome: Defendant was sentenced to 54 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release and was ordered to pay $4.4 million in restitution.

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