MIAMI, FL – A former Bureau of Prisons correctional officer was sentenced to 5 years in prison for participating in a massive mail and wire fraud scheme orchestrated from a Miami federal prison.
Michael Mazar, 39, of Hollywood, was ordered to pay over $8 million in restitution for his role in the scam.
According to court documents, Mazar provided co-conspirator James Sabatino, an inmate, with several cellular telephones and other items in February 2017. Sabatino used the contraband cellular telephones to contact several retail and jewelry store employees and brand representatives.
Sabatino pretended to be an employee of various film and music companies and convinced the victims to send retail items such as handbags, wristwatches, apparel, and jewelry to various locations in South Florida and elsewhere.
The victim companies shipped the retail items and jewelry to Sabatino’s co-conspirators, who then sold the fraudulently obtained items at pawnshops and jewelry stores in South Florida and elsewhere. Mazar received the ill-gotten proceeds, including retail items, jewelry, and U.S. currency, from these co-conspirators and stored them at his residence.
Sabatino previously pled guilty to a related racketeering charge and was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Mazar previously pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Christopher Browne and Nalina Sombuntham, and was investigated by the FBI and DOJ-OIG.
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Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Category: White Collar Crime|Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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