RUTLAND, VT – Matthew Senator Melvin, 36, of Shelburne, Vermont, is headed to prison for a calculated scheme to defraud employers and launder the ill-gotten gains. Judge Geoffrey Crawford handed down an 18-month sentence Thursday in federal court, adding to the time Melvin has already spent in custody since his March 2017 arrest by U.S. Marshals.
Melvin pleaded guilty to a multi-count indictment charging him with Mail Fraud, Money Laundering, and Making a False Statement. The scheme involved using false or stolen identities to secure employment, a brazen tactic that allowed him to pocket money under assumed names. He then attempted to conceal the source of these funds by transferring them between different bank accounts – a classic money laundering maneuver.
The fraud didn’t end there. Court records reveal Melvin compounded his offenses by repeatedly lying to the U.S. Probation office after initially being released on conditions. This prompted a second indictment for making false statements, to which he also confessed. It’s a pattern of deceit that clearly didn’t sit well with the judge.
Beyond the prison sentence, Melvin will be required to pay over $11,000 in restitution to his victims, plus a $5,500 fine. The government is also pursuing a money forfeiture order to recoup additional proceeds from his criminal activity. Upon his release, Melvin will face three years of supervised release, a watchful eye ensuring he stays on the right side of the law.
This wasn’t Melvin’s first brush with the law. While this marks his first federal felony conviction, Vermont state records show a history of prior offenses. The investigation was a joint effort between the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division and the U.S. Secret Service, highlighting the collaborative nature of federal crime-fighting.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Drescher prosecuted the case, while Paul Volk represented Melvin. The case underscores the Secret Service’s commitment to tackling financial crimes and holding perpetrators accountable, even in smaller states like Vermont. The Department of Justice District of Vermont handled the prosecution.
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Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
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