Peter Jerard Turk, 60, of Erie, Pennsylvania, has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of wire fraud, according to an announcement by United States Attorney David J. Hickton.
The ten-count indictment alleges that Turk used a Nigerian advance fee scheme to defraud a former acquaintance out of over $700,000.00 from January 2009 to September 2012.
The scheme, which is a common type of scam, involves promising the victim a large sum of money in exchange for an upfront payment. In this case, Turk allegedly used this scheme to swindle his victim out of hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of 200 years in prison, a fine of $2,500,000, or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Christian A. Trabold is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. The United States Secret Service conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case.
An indictment is an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. As the case moves forward, it will be up to the prosecution to prove Turk’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The use of Nigerian advance fee schemes is a serious concern for law enforcement, as it can result in significant financial losses for victims. In this case, the victim lost over $700,000, which is a substantial amount of money.
The investigation and indictment of Peter Jerard Turk serve as a reminder that law enforcement is committed to combating these types of scams and bringing those responsible to justice.
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Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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