BOISE – Christopher Bohnenkamp, 42, formerly of Kuna, Idaho, is facing serious time after pleading guilty today to one count of wire fraud and one count of bank fraud, Acting U.S. Attorney Rafael M. Gonzalez, Jr. announced. The owner of two now-defunct boat companies, Bohnenkamp ran a scheme that left customers high and dry – and creditors holding the bag – for a staggering amount of money.
According to court documents, from 2009 through 2015, Bohnenkamp owned Treasure Valley Marine, Inc. and Bohnenkamp’s Whitewater Customs, Inc., both initially located in Meridian, Idaho, and later moving to Boise. The companies specialized in building custom jet boats and trailers, routinely requiring full payment upfront. But Bohnenkamp wasn’t building dreams; he was building a house of cards.
The wire fraud count centers around a brazen scheme hatched around 2014. Knowing his companies were already circling the drain financially, Bohnenkamp continued accepting upfront payments from 13 new customers and ordering parts on credit from vendors. The money from the new customers wasn’t going towards their boats, but instead was used to pay off old debts and finish projects for existing clients. A $125,728 check deposited in Washington Trust Bank, originating from KeyBank on behalf of customer D.H., illustrates just one instance of the interstate wire transfer used to prop up the failing business. Those 13 customers? They never received the boats they paid for.
The scope of the fraud is immense. Investigators estimate the scheme resulted in actual losses between $1,500,000 and $3,500,000, impacting more than 10 victims. The fallout wasn’t limited to individuals; financial institutions – Washington Trust Bank, KeyBank, Idaho Central Credit Union, Mountain West Bank of Montana, and Les Bois Credit Union – were also burned, having loaned money to customers for boats that were never delivered. Bohnenkamp personally pocketed over $1,000,000 in gross receipts derived from the fraudulent activity.
The bank fraud charge stems from a January 6, 2012 incident where Bohnenkamp submitted a false bill of sale to KeyBank for customer D.B. The bill inflated the boat’s price, falsely claimed a $20,000 cash deposit, and concealed a $59,283 kickback intended for D.B. KeyBank subsequently disbursed $272,982, with $59,283 ultimately flowing back to D.B. – a clear attempt to defraud the bank. It’s a classic case of a conman manipulating the system for personal gain.
Bohnenkamp now faces a statutory maximum sentence of 30 years in prison for each count, totaling up to 60 years, along with a potential $1,000,000 fine and up to 5 years of supervised release. Sentencing is scheduled for August 8, 2017, at 9:00 a.m. before U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill in Boise. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division, conducted the investigation. This case serves as a harsh reminder: fraud will be uncovered, and those who profit from deceit will be held accountable.
Related Federal Cases
- Kmart Fraudster Mahone Gets 45 Months · Washington
- Sherlann Simon Pleads Guilty to Drug Money Laundering · Washington
- Augustine Jackson Pleads Guilty in North Idaho Drug Ring · Washington
- Robert Hill Pleads Guilty in North Idaho Drug Ring · Washington
- ‘Mama’ Toelle Gets 17 Years for Drug Empire · Washington
Key Facts
- State: Idaho
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
White Collar CrimeWhite Collar CrimeWhite Collar CrimeWhite Collar Crime