A Maryland-based company and its executives have been sentenced for their roles in a $20 million mail fraud scheme that targeted the Federal Communications Commission’s Video Relay Service.
John T. C. Yeh, the owner of Viable Communications Inc., and his brother, Joseph Yeh, the former vice president for corporate strategy, were each sentenced yesterday to 108 months and 55 months in prison, respectively, for their roles in the scheme.
According to court documents, Viable and the Yeh brothers conspired to pay individuals to make fraudulent VRS phone calls using Viable’s VRS service. The scheme, which began in approximately fall 2007, resulted in the company being paid approximately $390 per hour for all VRS calls that Viable processed.
Viable pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud and was ordered to forfeit $20 million and pay $20 million in restitution to the FCC.
The scheme targeted the Video Relay Service, an online video translation service that allows people with hearing disabilities to communicate with hearing individuals through the use of interpreters and Web cameras.
The cases were investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the FCC Office of Inspector General. The cases were prosecuted by Deputy Chief Hank Bond Walther and Trial Attorney Robert Zink of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Brigham Cannon, former Trial Attorney in the Fraud Section.
Defendant: Viable Communications Inc.
Criminal Charges: Conspiracy to Commit Mail Fraud
City and State: Rockville, Maryland
Date: 2010
Sentence: 108 months (John Yeh) and 55 months (Joseph Yeh) in prison, $20 million in restitution to the FCC, and $20 million forfeiture
Dollar Amounts: $20 million in restitution, $20 million forfeiture, and approximately $390 per hour for VRS calls
Related Federal Cases
- Jagveer Singh, Securities Fraud, Maryland 2015 · Washington
- Maxime Maiga, Wire Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft, Maryland 2013 · Massachusetts
- Edward H. Kahler, Mail Fraud, Washington 2013 · Washington
- Terry Bowman, Bank Fraud, Maryland 2013 · New Mexico
- Junaidu Saljan Savage, Bank Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft, Maryland 2016 · New Mexico
Key Facts
- State: Washington
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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