PITTSBURGH—A resident of Allegheny
County, Pennsylvania has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on
charges of mail fraud and bankruptcy fraud, United States Attorney David J.
Hickton announced today.
The four-count indictment named Andrew
A. Demasi, 62, of 1527 Caroline Street, Natrona Heights, Pennsylvania, as the
sole defendant.
According to the indictment, Demasi and
another individual operated a business known as A & R Services Inc. from an
apartment at Washington Place, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. On behalf of A & R
Services, Demasi and his partner negotiated the purchase, sale, and delivery of
linens, sports-related merchandise, and novelty items. During the period April
2007 through September 2007, Demasi and his partner devised and executed a
scheme to defraud manufacturers, wholesale distributors, and interstate
shipping companies of money and property. The fraud scheme included obtaining
merchandise for resale on A & R Services behalf by applying for extensions
of credit from the various manufacturers, wholesalers, and shipping companies
based on false financial information provided by Demasi and his partner.
The indictment charges that on August 3,
2007, September 4, 2007, and September 6, 2007, Demasi and his partner, in
executing the scheme, obtained Steelers and Buffalo Bills sports merchandise,
delivered by interstate carriers FedEx and UPS, from wholesalers identified as
Pro Specialities Group of San Diego, California; Sports Coverage of Dallas,
Texas; and Eagles Wings of St. Cloud, Florida, based upon credit extended upon
materially false financial information about the financial health and history
of A & R Services Inc. Demasi and his partner had no intention of paying
for the merchandise or its shipment after receipt.
The indictment further charges that on
September 4, 2007, Demasi filed a voluntary Chapter 7 bankruptcy petition with
the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania for
the purposes of executing and concealing the fraud scheme.
The law provides for a maximum total
sentence of 65 years in prison, a fine of $1,000,000, or both. Under the
Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon
the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the
defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Carolyn
J. Bloch is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation
conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case.
An indictment is an accusation. A
defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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