A North Carolina resident, Nicholas Scarantino, has admitted guilt in a scheme that defrauded numerous companies across the United States. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross, who confirmed that Scarantino pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud before Chief U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard A. Resnick explained that Scarantino owned Direct Chemicals in California and was involved in sending thousands of fake invoices between July and November 2021. These invoices were sent under the name of Direct Chemicals to various victim companies nationwide, leading to payments totaling approximately $861,268.66 from about 873 companies.
Several businesses in New York's Western District were among those affected, including locations such as Henrietta, Lakewood, Brockport, Andover, Rochester, Avon, Tonawanda, and Niagara Falls.
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation led by Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia; the U.S. Postal Inspection Service under Inspector in Charge Ketty Larco-Ward of the Boston Division; and the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations directed by Special Agent-in-Charge Thomas M. Fattorusso.
Scarantino is scheduled for sentencing on March 17, 2025.