Robert A. DiNoto, Wire Fraud, Maryland 2023

Robert A. DiNoto, a 48-year-old Huntington, New York resident, pleaded guilty on today to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, in connection with a fraudulent billing scheme involving a manufacturing company with facilities in Harford County, Maryland.

The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Darrell J. Waldon of the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation, Washington, D.C. Field Office.

"Robert DiNoto, the owner and President of American Pride Distributors, located in Woodbury, New York, is accused of orchestrating a fraudulent billing scheme that bilked Company 1, a family-owned global business headquartered in New York, but with manufacturing facilities in Belcamp and Abingdon, Maryland, both in Harford County, out of approximately $257,181 between December 2016 and August 2019," said United States Attorney Erek L. Barron.

"DiNoto's scheme involved submitting false invoices for undelivered drums to Company 1, which were approved for payment via emails to Company 1's accounting department in New York," added United States Attorney Erek L. Barron.

The scheme began in 2014 and continued through 2019, with DiNoto using the proceeds from the fraudulent billings for personal expenses, including to pay his credit card bills.

DiNoto's brother, Eugene DiNoto, a former longtime employee of Company 1, was also involved in the scheme, and helped DiNoto to establish a legitimate pattern of drum sales between American Pride and Company 1.

"This case highlights the importance of vigilance in preventing and detecting financial crimes," said Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office. "We will continue to work tirelessly to root out corruption and hold those responsible accountable."

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/pr/owner-new-york-commercial-drum-company-pleads-guilty-fraudulent-billing-scheme