David Pfeiffer, Thomas Colton, Conspiracy to Commit Mail Fraud, New York 2023
Two Men Indicted For Conspiring To Defraud Government Program
BUFFALO, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that a federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging David Pfeiffer, 64, of Killbuck, NY, and Thomas Colton, 53, of Salamanca, NY, with conspiracy to commit mail fraud and mail fraud. Pfeiffer was also charged with making a false statement to a financial institution.
The charges carry a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine.
Pfeiffer and Colton are accused of defrauding government agencies and the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program. A business can be designated a DBE if at least 51% of the business is owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals.
The indictment alleges that between May 2009 and 2013, Pfeiffer and Colton used Colton's business, Sue-Perior Concrete and Paving, Inc., as a subcontractor on federal government contracts. Sue-Perior was used to allow Pfeiffer's construction company Man O' Trees to obtain government contracts that it would have otherwise been unable to obtain.
The indictment also alleges that Pfeiffer submitted false personal financial statements to Five Star bank to obtain credit extensions for his businesses.
The indictment is the culmination of an investigation conducted by the Department of Transportation, Office of Inspector General, the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Office of Labor Racketeering and Fraud Investigations, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Key Facts
- State: New York
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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