Three New Jersey Men Charged In Manhattan Federal Court In Telemarketing Fraud Scheme Targeting The Elderly

U.S. Attorney's Office

Southern District of New York

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, October 18, 2017

Three New Jersey Men Charged In Manhattan Federal Court In Telemarketing Fraud Scheme Targeting The Elderly

Joon H. Kim, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced the unsealing of a Superseding Indictment charging CHRISTOPHER WILSON, a/k/a "Eric Fields," JACK KAVNER, a/k/a "Bob Wiley," a/k/a "Phil Powers," and DANIEL QUIRK, a/k/a "Lou Epstein," a/k/a "Bill Huckabee," a/k/a "Josh Newman," with conspiring to commit wire fraud and money laundering.WILSON also is charged with destruction, alteration, or falsification of records in a federal investigation.WILSON, KAVNER, and QUIRK were arrested this morning and will be presented and arraigned this afternoon before U.S. District Judge Sidney H. Stein in Manhattan federal court.

Acting Manhattan U.S. Attorney Joon H. Kim said: "These three defendants, together with their previously charged co-defendants, allegedly targeted the elderly in a callous telemarketing scheme.They allegedly lured their victims into making 'investments' in businesses, then just stole their money.Together with HSI and the NYPD, we will continue to investigate and prosecute all those who target victims who are vulnerable because of their age."

According to the allegations in the Superseding Indictment[1] (#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1), a Complaint filed against co-defendants, and other statements in the public record:

Beginning in at least October 2013 through at least September 2016, WILSON, KAVNER, and QUIRK operated telemarketing companies (the "Telemarketing Companies") that engaged in a fraudulent scheme (the "Telemarketing Scheme"), by which they promised to earn victims' (the "Victims") money in exchange for particular Victims making an initial cash "investment" in business development, website design, grant applications, or tax preparation services.Many Victims, the majority of whom are over 70 years old, "invested" thousands of dollars with the Telemarketing Companies, but did not earn any of the promised returns.When Victims of the Telemarketing Scheme sought refunds, or fought credit card charges, the Telemarketing Companies provided explanations and documentation to the credit card companies falsely representing that the Victims had received the promised services.

WILSON, KAVNER, and QUIRK participated in the Telemarketing Scheme by, among other things, operating the interrelated Telemarketing Companies as set forth in the below chart:

Telemarketing Company

Defendants

Olive Branch Marketing

CTO Consulting

CHRISTOPHER WILSON, a/k/a "Eric Fields"

Carlyle Management Group

Vanguard Business Solutions

JACK KAVNER, a/k/a "Bob Wiley," a/k/a "Phil Powers"

DANIEL QUIRK, a/k/a "Lou Epstein," a/k/a "Bill Huckabee," a/k/a "Josh Newman"

Six other individuals were previously indicted in this case, which is scheduled for trial on April 16, 2018.

***

WILSON, 32, of Teaneck, New Jersey, KAVNER, 31, of West New York, New Jersey, and QUIRK, 33, of Little Ferry, New Jersey, are each charged with one count of conspiring to commit wire fraud and one count of conspiring to commit money laundering, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.WILSON also is charged with one count of destruction, alteration, or falsification of records in a federal investigation, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.

Mr. Kim praised the outstanding investigative work of HSI and the NYPD.He added that the investigation is ongoing.

The prosecution is being handled by the Office's General Crimes Unit.Assistant United States Attorneys Kiersten A. Fletcher and Robert B. Sobelman are in charge of the prosecution.

The charges contained in the Superseding Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

If you have any information regarding WILSON, KAVNER, QUIRK, or victims of the Telemarketing Companies, please report it by phone at (917) 480-7167 or by email at christopher.bastos@nypd.org.

[1] (http://www.doj.gov//usa.doj.gov/cloud/NYS/StAndrews/Shared/PressOffice/DRAFTS/Drafts 2017/10-October 2017/2017-10-18 Wilson, et al. Superseding Indictment PR/Wilson, et al. Superseding Indictment PR final.docx#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1) As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Superseding Indictment, and the description of the Superseding Indictment set forth herein, constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.

Attachment(s):

Topic(s):

Financial Fraud

Component(s):

DOJ - USAO

Press Release Number:

17-341

Updated October 18, 2017