City Court Employee Cheated City of Over $400,000
On November 21, 2012, the US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania reported that William Rullo of Levittown, Pennsylvania, received 33 months in prison for defrauding the First Judicial District in Pennsylvania. The fraud scheme lasted from 1999 to 2010. He used his position as a procurement technician to buy flat screen televisions for himself, his family, and friends.
The fraud caused the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania to lose about $433,000.
Rullo’s job entailed placing orders with vendors, buying courtroom electronic equipment for the district, using district credit cards, and seeking approval from the district judge with Administrative Services before sending invoices to the Accounts Payable Department. Rullo used the district credit card to make purchases from January 2005 to March 2010 totaling about $321,000.
Rullo used the credit card to purchase SEPTA transit tokens and then sell them back to co-workers for half price.
From July 2008 to August 2009, Rullo forged the signatures of judges and the director of Administrative Services on purchase invoices. Rullo was able to by 36 plasma and LCD televisions worth about $65,000 with the forged invoices. He also purchased about $12,000 worth of AT&T cell phones from December 1999 to March 2010 and about $35,000 worth of monthly parking passes that he eventually resold to friends.
In addition to the prison time, the U.S. District Judge also ordered Rullo to three years of supervised release along with restitution of $433,000.
The case was investigated by the FBI, the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, the First Judicial District Court, and the Philadelphia Police Department. Philadelphia Assistant Attorney and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney William Inden were in charge of prosecution.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation
Comments
Must Read
Mail Fraud Quick OverviewMail fraud refers to any deceitful crime that includes the use of the postal system.
Accountant Fraud At A GlanceAccountant fraud (or corporate accounting scandals) often occurs as a result of an accountant not disclosing factual statements to their clients (individuals or businesses) about the state of their finances.
All You Need To Know About Mail Fraud ChargesMail fraud charges are used most frequently in federal white collar crime cases to either make an initial charge or add a charge to a list of existing ones.
All You Need To Know About Reporting BlindnessOne of the most common disability fraud types Disability fraud falling into the category of "reporting blindness" can also include criminals taking advantage of acts intended to help the legally blind return to work.
All You Need to Know About Supreme Court CasesThere are two cases that involve the proper criminal procedure involving the prosecution of wire fraud.
All You Need to Know About The History Identity TheftIdentity theft, though it has taken on new forms and has become significantly more common, is not a new crime.
Bait and Switch DefinitionIt may not necessarily be all that obvious all the time, but the bait and switch tactic used by both the retail and political world should be of no surprise to people living in nations which are fueled by consumerism and politics.
Bankruptcy Fraud At A GlanceBankruptcy fraud is any kind of fraud involving filing for bankruptcy in an attempt to gain some kind of profit from the overall scheme.