NORTH ATTLEBORO — A Rhode Island gentleman has been sentenced to federal prison for conspiring with a former staff of a community automobile repair shop and other individuals to defraud a Pennsylvania auto warranty business of up to $600,000.
Matthew Gershkoff, 64, of North Providence, was sentenced Thursday to 30 months in jail in U.S. District Court docket in Scranton, Pa., in accordance to the U.S. attorney’s office environment for the Center District of Pennsylvania.
Next his jail time period, he will be on probation for three decades and ought to spend above $385,350 in restitution to the guarantee enterprise, according to the U.S. attorney’s business.
Gershkoff was convicted of making ready false invoices for nonexistent car repairs with the enable of co-conspirators used at four auto repair shops, including Ultra Car Middle on Route 1 in North Attleboro.
He was also found guilty of forging the signatures of coverage entrepreneurs and invoices were being despatched to and were paid out by Diamond Warranty Corp. of Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
Gershkoff, who was the manager of Village Motors in North Providence, pleaded guilty on May well 18, 2020, to defrauding the organization of between $250,000 and $550,000.
He pleaded responsible to conspiring to commit wire fraud and aggravated identification theft offenses.
The previous Ultra Auto Center worker, Jason Pannone, 40, of North Providence, was sentenced very last month to 18 months for processing untrue invoices for phony vehicle repairs.
Pannone was the operator of Platinum Car Companies in Providence, which he shut for fiscal factors, before getting a job Extremely Vehicle Expert services, according to courtroom records.
Pannone participated in the fraud at Platinum and continued the plan immediately after staying employed at Extremely, which was not concerned in the fraud, the courtroom claimed.
He was also requested to pay out over $128,600 in restitution, the quantity Diamond Guarantee Corp. deposited into his financial institution account.
A third defendant, Herman Cabral, 62, of Cranston, was sentenced to 10 months for processing phony invoices for nonexistent auto repairs by means of his Providence vehicle detailing store, A In addition Automobile Services.
He was also ordered to pay out above $211,600 in restitution.
Brian Larry, 59, of Clark’s Summit, Pa., was convicted soon after trial in Could of mail fraud, wire fraud, aggravated id theft, phony assertion offenses and defrauding his former employer, the Wilkes-Barre centered auto warranty enterprise.
Larry, who was a claims adjuster for Diamond Warranty, is awaiting sentencing.
The situation was investigated by the FBI.
David Linton might be reached at 508-236-0338.
