Ex-government agent pleads guilty in scheme to seize money
1:00 AM
Posted: Thursday, November 01, 2007
PHOENIX (AP) -- A former federal agent who had investigated health care fraud pleaded guilty to seizing more than $1 million to buy property and pay off his mortgage, officials said Wednesday.
Scott Allen Gompert pleaded guilty Tuesday in federal court to a charge of forging the signature of a judge or court officer and to a charge of bank fraud. He also agreed to forfeit about $550,000 in cash and some property.
He faces as many as 35 years in prison and fines totaling more than $1.2 million at sentencing in January.
"Mr. Gompert has taken responsibility for his conduct, and we're going to wait for the sentencing to see what happens," said his attorney, Patricia Gitre. "He's been very forthcoming about what happened."
Gompert investigated health care fraud for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. According to a statement from federal officials, Gompert used his expertise and connections to identify bank accounts holding proceeds from fraudulent activity.
He then created fake seizure warrants and forged federal judges' signatures to steal more than $1.1 million during three investigations in 2005 and 2006. He deposited the money into an account he opened at a Phoenix bank, according to the plea agreement he signed.
Gompert used part of the first seizure, which totaled more than $253,000, to pay off his mortgage and some credit card debt and to buy a 2005 Toyota Avalon, according to the court documents. He put some of the money he seized later into a CD.
According to court documents, he used part of the stolen money to buy land in Peoria, a Phoenix suburb. Court documents say he intended to go into the business of building high-end homes.
Scott Allen Gompert pleaded guilty Tuesday in federal court to a charge of forging the signature of a judge or court officer and to a charge of bank fraud. He also agreed to forfeit about $550,000 in cash and some property.
He faces as many as 35 years in prison and fines totaling more than $1.2 million at sentencing in January.
"Mr. Gompert has taken responsibility for his conduct, and we're going to wait for the sentencing to see what happens," said his attorney, Patricia Gitre. "He's been very forthcoming about what happened."
Gompert investigated health care fraud for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. According to a statement from federal officials, Gompert used his expertise and connections to identify bank accounts holding proceeds from fraudulent activity.
He then created fake seizure warrants and forged federal judges' signatures to steal more than $1.1 million during three investigations in 2005 and 2006. He deposited the money into an account he opened at a Phoenix bank, according to the plea agreement he signed.
Gompert used part of the first seizure, which totaled more than $253,000, to pay off his mortgage and some credit card debt and to buy a 2005 Toyota Avalon, according to the court documents. He put some of the money he seized later into a CD.
According to court documents, he used part of the stolen money to buy land in Peoria, a Phoenix suburb. Court documents say he intended to go into the business of building high-end homes.
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