News Releases
GARRISON INDICTED FOR EMBEZZLING FUNDS FROM THE "MAKE-A-WISH" FOUNDATION
September 6, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
David E. Nahmias, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia, and James Byers, Acting Special Agent in Charge, United States Secret Service, Atlanta Field Office, announce that a federal grand jury today indicted JOSEPH GARRISON, 31, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on charges of bank fraud and identity theft. According to Nahmias and the indictment:
GARRISON was named in a 20 count indictment charging him with bank fraud and with violations of the Identity Theft Enhancement Act. GARRISON, who was employed by the "Make-A-Wish Foundation of Georgia and Alabama" as its Finance Director from March of 2004 to April of 2005, had the responsibility to account for the payment of expenses related to "wishes" granted to children with life-threatening illnesses. Specifically, GARRISON was responsible for gathering the supporting "wish" documentation and for preparing the checks for the signature of Chief Executive Officer of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. In executing the scheme to defraud, GARRISON created fictitious payment obligations for "wish families" who had already been paid, and also created numerous fictitious payment obligations using his wife's maiden name. The defendant then submitted these checks to the CEO of the Make-A-Wish Foundation for her signature.
The indictment charges that on other occasions GARRISON forged the name and signature of the CEO of the foundation on the face of the checks, then GARRISON himself took possession of the fraudulently issued checks–-which were drawn upon Wachovia Bank---and caused Wachovia Bank to release funds from Make-A-Wish's checking account to GARRISON's own bank account. As a result of the scheme, the Make-A-Wish Foundation suffered a loss of over $92,000.
United States Attorney David Nahmias said of the case, "These charges are particularly egregious because the funds were designated for granting the wishes of children with life-threatening illnesses. I commend the Make-A-Wish Foundation for its swift action in detecting and reporting the fraud, and wish the organization continued success in pursuing its noble endeavor."
The defendant faces a sentence of up to 30 years imprisonment on each bank fraud count if convicted, and a mandatory sentence of 2 years consecutive to the bank fraud sentence for the aggravated identity theft counts.
This case is being investigated by special agents from the United States Secret Service. Assistant United States Attorney Bjay Pak is prosecuting this case.
Members of the public are reminded that the indictment contains only allegations. A defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government's burden to prove a defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
For further information please contact David E. Nahmias, United States Attorney or F. Gentry Shelnutt, Chief, Criminal Division, through Patrick Crosby, Public Affairs Officer, U.S. Attorney's Office, at (404) 581-6016. The Internet address for the HomePage for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia is www.usdoj.gov/usao/gan.