The grimy halls of justice were shaken today as HUGO LINGAT CAINGAT, JR., a 59-year-old Bonney Lake resident, was sentenced to 24 months in prison and three years of supervised release for six counts of wire fraud. The U.S. Attorney Jenny A. Durkan announced the sentence.
CAINGAT’s crime spree began at Aspen Lodging Group, LLC (ALG), a hotel group based in Tacoma, from 2007 to 2011. During his tenure as controller, he siphoned over $700,000 into a dormant bank account, using it to pay personal bills and significant gambling debts.
According to U.S. District Judge Benjamin H. Settle, CAINGAT was ‘a man of skill and aptitude who gained the trust of his employer and then abused it.’ The forger-in-chief created duplicate invoices for inter-company payments totaling nearly $600,000, which he funneled into his secret account.
Discovered by ALG in December 2011, CAINGAT was immediately fired. The FBI took over the case and, in May 2012, CAINGAT tried to flee to the Philippines but returned when extradition began. He pleaded guilty in October 2012.
In their sentencing memo, prosecutors highlighted the sophisticated nature of the embezzlement scheme, which involved multiple sub-schemes over nearly two years. CAINGAT was ordered to pay $750,550 in restitution, including $50,000 spent by ALG on the investigation.
This case is a stark reminder of the lengths some will go to exploit trust and enrich themselves at others’ expense. The FBI and U.S. Attorney’s Office stand vigilant against such crimes, ensuring justice for victims like those at Aspen Lodging Group.
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Key Facts
- State: Washington
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes|White Collar Crime|Public Corruption
- Source: Official Source ↗
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