Michael Johnson, Joseph Rodriguez Sentenced for Logistics Scheme, Texas 2023

Two men have been sentenced to prison for their roles in a scheme to defraud a Savannah Port logistics service in Texas.

Michael Johnson, 55, of Houston, was sentenced to 48 months in prison and ordered to pay $150,000 in restitution for his role in the scheme. Johnson, a former employee of the logistics company, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

Joseph Rodriguez, 42, of San Antonio, was sentenced to 30 months in prison and ordered to pay $75,000 in restitution for his role in the scheme. Rodriguez, the owner of a trucking company, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

According to the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas, Johnson and Rodriguez conspired to pay for fake transportation invoices, which were then submitted to the logistics company for payment. The scheme resulted in losses of over $225,000 for the company.

The investigation was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the US Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General. The case was prosecuted by the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas.

Johnson and Rodriguez were sentenced by US District Judge Kenneth M. Hoyt in Houston. The sentencing hearing was held on March 21, 2023.

The case is a reminder of the importance of vigilance in preventing and detecting financial crimes. ‘We will continue to work tirelessly to identify and prosecute those who seek to exploit our system for personal gain,’ said US Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.

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