Former Navy Senior Chief Sentenced for $2.3 Million Fraud

NORFOLK, Va. – A former U.S. Navy senior chief was sentenced today to two years in prison for his involvement in a procurement fraud scheme that resulted in a $2.3 million loss to the U.S. Navy.

According to court documents, Clayton Pressley III, 42, of Chesapeake, conspired with two others to form a sham government contracting firm in May 2014. The company, known in court documents as “Firm G,” was ostensibly formed to provide “inert training aids” to local Navy units. However, Firm G had neither the capability nor intention to provide the Navy with any supplies at all. Instead, the conspirators manipulated the government procurement process to contract with themselves, and signed fraudulent documentation with the Navy indicating that Firm G had delivered product when it had not. The conspirators used legitimate vendors as intermediaries through which they would fraudulently subcontract business from the Navy to Firm G. The Navy would pay Firm G, through these intermediaries, and ultimately the conspirators would simply distribute the proceeds amongst themselves.  

Tracy Doherty-McCormick, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Robert E. Craig, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of  the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) Mid-Atlantic Field Office, Cliff Everton, Special Agent in Charge of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) Norfolk Field Office, Martin Culbreth, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office, and Kelly R. Jackson, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Washington, D.C. Field Office, IRS-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Henry C. Morgan, Jr.  Special Assistant U.S. Attorney David A. Layne and Assistant U.S. Attorney Steve Haynie prosecuted the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:17-cr-152.