MADISON, Wis. (WFRV) – A 45-year-old Wisconsin man has been sentenced to three years in prison for wire fraud and attempted wire fraud.
U.S. District Judge William Conley sentenced Robert Carter, of Eau Claire, on Oct. 17, 2024, following his conviction on July 16.
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The fraud scheme began in 2018, when Carter feigned interest in purchasing a trucking company in Fond du Lac, falsely claiming to own private jets and a yacht.
He convinced the company owners to provide sensitive financial information, under the pretense of due diligence, before backing out of the $10 million deal.
Carter retained the financial documents for two years and altered them in 2020 to appear as if they belonged to his businesses.
He then used the falsified statements to fraudulently obtain three semi-trucks and two trailers from an equipment leasing company.
Concurrently, Carter downloaded financial statements from an Iowa charitable trust, altered them, and attempted to lease ten additional semi-trucks from a second leasing company.
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Judge Conley noted Carter’s criminal history, which included prior fraud convictions, during sentencing.
The charges stemmed from an investigation by IRS Criminal Investigations, the FBI, and the U.S. Trustee’s Office for the Western District of Wisconsin.
