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California Marine Sentenced for Wire Fraud
A former Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves was sentenced to three months in custody followed by six months’ community confinement in a halfway house and ordered to pay forfeiture and restitution for participating in a four-year wire fraud conspiracy to defraud the Marine Corps out of over $205,000.
Lieutenant Colonel Michael K. Strom pretended to rent the home of his fellow officer, former reservist Major Jason H. Wild, in order to claim reimbursements from the Marines when called to active duty at Camp Pendleton. Wild, in turn, pretended to rent Strom’s home. Both men submitted phony lease agreements and rental receipts to support their false claims.
Strom pleaded guilty in October 2016 to conspiring to commit wire fraud, and filing false claims with the United States. He was sentenced on February 27, 2017, in the Southern District of California.
Co-defendant Wild, who was convicted by a jury at trial last November, was sentenced on February 21, 2017, to nine months in custody followed by six months’ community confinement in a halfway house. Judge Anthony J. Battaglia also imposed the same $205,628 forfeiture judgment and restitution order against Wild.
Financial records, including a bank analysis performed by the Naval Audit Service, established that neither defendant had paid a dollar of the claimed rent.
“Members of the armed forces who defraud the military out of its funds don’t just steal from taxpayers; they rob their comrades in arms of the resources they need to defend each other and our country,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Alana W. Robinson.
Defendant: Michael K. Strom
Criminal Charges: Conspiring to commit wire fraud, filing false claims with the United States
City and State: San Diego, California
Date: February 27, 2017
Sentence: 3 months in custody followed by 6 months’ community confinement in a halfway house
Dollar Amount: $205,000
Key Facts
- State: California
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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