A Tybee Island shrimper will spend more than six years in federal prison after being sentenced for a case involving fraudulent claims for losses from foreign competition.
Michael Brian Anderson, who was convicted by a federal jury on March 22, 2018, was sentenced to 77 months in prison by United States District Court Judge William T. Moore Jr. on August 30, 2018, for three counts of false statements, four counts of mail fraud and two counts of money laundering.
In addition to the prison sentence, Judge Moore also ordered Anderson to pay $818,234 in restitution. The court imposed a longer sentence than standard guidelines for the case because of aggravating factors that included Anderson’s perjury during the trial and the number of victims in the case, including the use of a deceased person to further the scheme.
During the trial, prosecutors from the Southern District of Georgia U.S. Attorney’s Office presented evidence that Anderson submitted multiple false claims to Customs & Border Protection (CBP) seeking millions of dollars in subsidies under the Continued Dumping and Subsidy Offset Act of 2000 (CDSOA).
Anderson, an eligible domestic shrimper, applied to CBP for subsidies based on the claim that his shrimping business expenses from 2005 to 2007 were more than $24 million – a claim refuted during his trial, and further debunked by Anderson’s own bank records and tax returns.
“Brian Anderson submitted millions of dollars in inflated invoices for one simple reason: greed,” said United States Attorney Bobby L. Christine. “By overinflating the amount he was entitled to receive under the CDSOA, Brian Anderson diverted money from hard-working shrimpers into his own pocket. Our office is devoted to aggressively prosecuting anyone who seeks to steal public money.”
Anderson used the illegally obtained proceeds to purchase boats, stock and real estate.
The case was jointly investigated by the United States Coast Guard Investigative Service, Homeland Security Investigations, and Customs and Border Protection. Assistant United States Attorneys Jennifer Kirkland and Tania Groover prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.
For any questions, please contact Barry Paschal at (912) 652-4422.
Sentencing: August 30, 2018, for 77 months in federal prison and $818,234 in restitution. Defendant: Michael Brian Anderson.
Key Facts
- State: Georgia
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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