Moscow Man Sentenced for Fraud, Gun Charges

COEUR D’ALENE – Matt Eugene Ruck, 49, of Moscow, Idaho, was slammed with a 60-month federal prison term followed by three years of supervised release for a triple-barreled crime spree. The U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson dropped the hammer yesterday in United States District Court, while Senior U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge ordered Ruck to cough up $206,081.35 in restitution.

In Ruck’s first case, a jury convicted him of wire fraud and theft of government money after he overbilled for services he never provided to the federal government, swindling out around $345,000. His second and third cases saw him pleading guilty to unlawful possession of firearms as a prohibited person, and making a false statement on a government document, which landed him debarred from government contracts.

Despite his debarment, Ruck managed to secure 12 government contracts through the deceitful collaboration with co-defendant William Douglas Brown. This chameleon conman’s ability to lie about his status was the linchpin in securing these contracts. His crimes were investigated by a who’s-who of federal agencies including the ATF, Department of Homeland Security, General Services Administration – Office of Inspector General, and the U.S. Secret Service (USSS).

It’s a cold day in hell that sees Ruck receive justice for his treachery, but it’s a rare victory for law enforcement that sends a clear message about the consequences of fraud and illegal gun possession.

According to Olson, Ruck’s fraudulent activities were not just a financial crime but a betrayal of public trust. The sentence handed down reflects the severity of his actions and the damage he caused to the government coffers and the law-abiding citizens who depend on its services.

The court’s order to pay restitution sends an additional message: those who steal from the government will have to make it right. Ruck’s fall from grace serves as a stark reminder that crime does not pay, especially when it comes to crimes against the federal government.

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