Robert Irey, 59, of Clarksville, PA 15322, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud in a scam that ripped off 22 investors of more than $2 million. The Greene County man stood before U.S. District Judge Robert J. Colville in Pittsburgh and admitted his role in a sham waste-to-energy venture that never produced a single watt.
Irey and his coconspirators ran a shell company called Alternative Energy Holdings, LLC (“AEH”), pitching it as a green-energy miracle. They told victims AEH would build a plant converting biodegradable waste into usable power. The hook? High-interest short-term loans and promises of ownership stakes. Investors believed they were funding a future. Instead, they were funding Irey’s pocketbook.
From June 2016 to April 2018, Irey and his partners collected $2,017,228.44 from 22 desperate or hopeful lenders. The funds were supposed to cover business expenses. In reality, the cash was split three ways and funneled into personal accounts. Victims waited for repayments that never came. The plant? Never built. The promises? All lies.
The scam unraveled under federal scrutiny. Investigators from the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation peeled back layers of false claims, fabricated business plans, and shell transactions. There was no technology, no contracts, no site permits—just a hollow pitch designed to bleed victims dry.
Now, Irey faces the consequences. Sentencing is set for March 24, 2021, before Judge Colville. The law allows up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both. While the Federal Sentencing Guidelines will weigh the final blow, one thing is clear: Irey’s con game is over.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lee J. Karl. Acting U.S. Attorney Stephen R. Kaufman emphasized that fraud targeting public trust in clean energy won’t be tolerated. “These weren’t just numbers on a spreadsheet,” Kaufman said. “These were life savings, gambled on a fantasy.”
Related Federal Cases
- Mangis Sentenced For $70K Wire Fraud Scheme · Pennsylvania
- Ebensburg Woman Pleads Guilty to Tax Fraud Scheme · Maryland
- Aliquippa Man Admits to Counterfeit Card Scheme · Pennsylvania
- Arts & Crafts Fraud: Medicare Hit for $200K · Pennsylvania
- Finger-Painting Fraud: $200K Medicare Rip · Pennsylvania
Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
