Dominic Deandre Gregory, Wire Fraud, California 2020

A former special police officer from Washington D.C. has been charged with wire fraud in connection with a scheme to raise money for the funeral of a fallen officer in California. Dominic Deandre Gregory, 27, was a Special Police Officer in the District of Columbia when he created an online campaign on GoFundMe to raise money for the funeral of Federal Protective Service Officer Patrick Underwood, who was shot and killed on May 29, 2020, while on duty guarding the federal building in Oakland, California.

According to a complaint filed September 28, 2020, and unsealed today, Gregory represented on the website and in communications to donors that he was a family member of Officer Underwood, despite having no known connection to the Underwood family. Underwood was unmarried and had no children. Gregory set various fundraising goals on the website, including one for up to $90,000.

Gregory allegedly created the campaign on May 30, 2020, the day after the murder, and at times posted pleas for Underwood’s funeral, his wife, and his kids. Even after the GoFundMe account was deactivated, Gregory encouraged donors to make contributions using an alternative payment service.

The charges contained in the criminal complaint are mere allegations. As in any criminal case, the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

Gregory is charged with wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1343. If convicted of the charge, Gregory faces a maximum statutory sentence of 20 years imprisonment, a three-year term of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.

Gregory made his initial federal court appearance this morning before Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge Joseph C. Spero, who ordered Gregory released on $25,000 bond. Gregory’s next appearance is scheduled for November 2, 2020, before Magistrate Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley for a status conference.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Molly K. Priedeman with the assistance of Alexa Leisure. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the United States Secret Service.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndca/pr/former-special-police-officer-charged-wire-fraud-connection-fraudulent-online-campaign