National Air Cargo fraud couple jailed
15 / 11 / 2024
Source: Worawee Meepian/shutterstock
A married couple have been sentenced to prison for their roles in a two-year scheme to defraud US logistics company National Air Cargo of $5m.
Kimberly Ann Tew and Michael Aaron Tew were sentenced to 48 months and 42 months in prison, respectively, said the the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado in a press release.
The sentencing follows the declaration of guilty verdicts for the couple in February this year.
In addition to the prison sentences, Kimberly Tew was ordered to pay a forfeiture money judgment of over $5m, restitution in the same amount, plus a $35,000 fine. Michael Tew shares in the money judgement, restitution and a $100,000 fine.
According to the facts established at trial, beginning in 2018, the couple conspired to defraud National Air Cargo through the submission of dozens of false invoices for services and items that were never provided.
Over the course of two years, with the help of a co-conspirator, the Tews defrauded the business of $5m. Testimony at trial demonstrated the Tews gambled away much of the money and spent $2.4m buying cryptocurrencies at cryptocurrency ATMs across the Denver area.
Michael Tew also failed to file federal income tax returns for tax years 2016 through 2019, on both his earned income and funds obtained from the fraud scheme.
Kimberly Tew was sentenced on August 8, 2024. Michael Tew was sentenced on November 12.
IRS Criminal Investigation, and the FBI Denver Field Office conducted the investigation.
“The Tews enriched themselves by exploiting the trust of an employer, and they deserve every day of these sentences,” said Acting United States Attorney for the District of Colorado Matt Kirsch. “We are grateful to our partners at IRS-CI and the FBI for their help in bringing them to justice.”
“Michael and Kimberly Tew’s greed and desire for a lavish lifestyle led to the judgement handed down today,” said Tom Demeo, acting special agent in charge, IRS Criminal Investigation Denver Field Office. “These two sentences are an example of the impressive work of our special agents and law enforcement partners and reinforces the fact that financial crimes carry with them significant penalties.”
“This audacious and greedy scheme defrauded a defense contractor of $5 million over several years. These criminal acts fully warrant the penalties imposed,” added FBI Denver special agent in iharge Mark Michalek. “The FBI remains committed to working with IRS-CI to target and bring to justice individuals engaged in such unlawful behavior.”
National Air Cargo is headquartered in Florida and offers domestic and international airfreight capacity, as well as air charter options. The company is a contractor for the US Department of Defense.
The airline has operational hubs in Buffalo in New York, Chicago, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Madrid, Dubai, Djibouti, Kuala Lumpur, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Shanghai.
