UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN
SOUTHERN DIVISION
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff,
v.
D-1 DOUGLAS A. BENIT, aka J.D.
HOWEN, aka D.J. HOWEN, aka
JACK HOWEN
D-2 MARY ANN ELAM BENIT, aka
MARY ANN ELAM, aka MARY
ANN ROSSI
D-3 CORAL TECHNOLOGY, INC.
D-4 SCHOOL MANAGEMENT
SERVICES, INC.
Defendants.
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CRIMINAL NO. 2:06-CR-20285
FILED: 5/23/06
HONORABLE:
VIOLATIONS: 18 U.S.C. § 371
18 U.S.C. § 666
18 U.S.C. §§ 1341 & 2
18 U.S.C. §§ 1343 & 2
18 U.S.C. §§ 1344 & 2
18 U.S.C. § 1341
18 U.S.C. § 1956(h)
OFFENSES: Conspiracy to Commit Federal
Program Fraud, Mail Fraud and Wire Fraud
Federal Program Fraud
Mail Fraud and Aiding and Abetting
Wire Fraud and Aiding and Abetting
Bank Fraud and Aiding and Abetting
Mail Fraud
Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering
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INDICTMENT
THE GRAND JURY CHARGES:
GENERAL ALLEGATIONS
At all times material to the indictment:
- Ecorse Public Schools ("EPS") was an independent agency operating with the Michigan
State Board of Education. EPS is located in Ecorse, Michigan, which is located in the
Eastern District of Michigan. EPS educates students residing in a small community on
the shores of the Detroit River. It has an enrollment of approximately 1,200 students, of
which about 55% are identified as minorities. In each calendar year covered under this
Indictment, EPS received benefits in excess of $10,000 under a Federal program
involving a grant, contract, subsidy, loan, guarantee, insurance or other form of Federal
assistance.
- The 1997 Building and School Bond Fund was a $44 million dollar bond issue for the
construction of new schools and renovation of existing schools within the EPS.
- During the relevant period, EPS established a process for handling the bids submitted by
prospective contractors for 1997 Building and School Bond Fund projects. First, bid
specifications would be developed by DOUGLAS A. BENIT, in conjunction with the
architect and construction manager. Second, bid advertisements would be sent to
companies who so requested and would be published in four newspapers. Third, bids
would be opened at a public meeting and analyzed by DOUGLAS A. BENIT. Fourth, at
the next regular EPS School Board meeting, the bids would be awarded by resolution.
- E-Rate was a program created by Congress in the Telecommunication Act of 1996 and
operated under the auspices of the Federal Communications Commission ("FCC") to
provide funding to connect schools and libraries to the Internet. The FCC designated the
Universal Services Administrative Company ("USAC"), a nonprofit corporation, to
administer the E-Rate program. The E-Rate program collected substantial quantities of
money from telecommunications customers across the country to fund the program. EPS
was awarded E-Rate monies in the 1999-2000 and 2000-2001 funding years.
- During the relevant period, USAC established rules and procedures to ensure that E-Rate
funding was distributed to the widest number of qualifying applicants. Among the rules
and procedures were the following: (1) only USAC-approved equipment, services, and
supplies were eligible for funding; (2) schools could seek funding only for projects for
which the schools had budgeted funds for their matching amount and for the purchase of
the end-user equipment and services necessary to utilize the applied-for equipment and
services; (3) services providers or their agents could not participate in the vendor
selection process or the completion of forms necessary for the schools to receive E-Rate
funding in order to avoid a conflict of interest or even the appearance of a conflict of
interest; and (4) school districts were required to follow local and state law competitive
bidding procedures to ensure that the school districts received the most cost-effective bids
from the responsive bidders.
- DOUGLAS A. BENIT, aka J.D. HOWEN, aka D.J. HOWEN, aka JACK HOWEN, was
employed by EPS from 1997 to 2003, serving as the Director of Facility Development
and then later as the Assistant Superintendent. During his tenure at EPS, BENIT's
responsibilities centered on administering the 1997 Building and School Bond Fund,
which included coordinating and supervising new school construction; advising and
assisting in the development of appropriation requests for major projects; and reviewing
contractor bids and proposals. BENIT was also responsible for overseeing the E-Rate
funds awarded to EPS and serving as the contact person for USAC at EPS. While
employed at EPS, BENIT was also an owner, employee, agent, or contractor of CORAL
TECHNOLOGY, INC.
- CORAL TECHNOLOGY, INC. ("CORAL") was an Ohio corporation that, among other
functions, was a distributor of Degem Systems Ltd. ("Degem") products. Degem
designed and manufactured vocational educational and distance learning technology.
Degem, an Israeli company, maintained a presence in the United States through its
subsidiary, Innovative Technologies in Education ("ITE"). ITE, in turn, had regional
distributors, such as CORAL, who were paid commissions for sales of Degem products in
the distributors' region.
- MARY ANN ELAM BENIT (hereinafter "MARY ANN ELAM"), aka MARY ANN
ELAM, aka MARY ANN ROSSI was an employee, agent, or contractor of CORAL.
ELAM married DOUGLAS A. BENIT in 2005.
- General Electric Contracting, Inc. ("GE Contracting") was a corporation organized and
existing under the laws of Michigan.
- NEC-Business Network Solutions, Inc. ("NEC") was a corporation organized and
existing under the laws of Delaware with its principal place of business in Irving, Texas.
- SCHOOL MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC. ("SMS") was a corporation established by
BENIT in 1999 in the State of Michigan. Both BENIT and ELAM have been named as
officers.
COUNT ONE
(18 U.S.C. §§ 666(a)(1)(A), 1341, 1343, 1346, 371 Conspiracy
to
Commit Federal Program Fraud, Mail Fraud and Wire Fraud)
D-1 DOUGLAS A. BENIT
D-2 MARY ANN ELAM
D-3 CORAL TECHNOLOGY, INC.
- The General Allegations, Paragraphs 1 to 10 are hereby incorporated in this Count.
- From about March 16, 1998, up to and including October 7, 2003, said dates being
approximate, in the Eastern District of Michigan and elsewhere, Defendants DOUGLAS
A. BENIT, an employee or agent of Ecorse Public Schools, MARY ANN ELAM,
CORAL TECHNOLOGY, INC., and others known and unknown to the Grand Jury,
conspired to commit offenses against the United States, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371,
that is,
- to embezzle, to steal, to obtain by fraud and to unlawfully convert to the
use of a person other than the rightful owner or intentionally misapply
property valued at $5,000 or more and that is owned by or under the
custody, care and control of EPS, an organization or agency of a state or
local government which received benefits of over $10,000 in a one-year
period under a Federal program involving a grant, contract, subsidy, loan,
and other form of federal assistance, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §
666(a)(1)(A); and
- to knowingly devise a scheme and artifice to defraud EPS and USAC as to
a material matter and to obtain money and property by means of materially
false and fraudulent pretenses, representations, and promises, and to
deprive EPS and USAC of the right to DOUGLAS A. BENIT's honest
services in the affairs of EPS and USAC, and to use the United States
mails or other interstate delivery services and interstate wire
communications to further the scheme to defraud, in violation of Title 18,
United States Code, Sections 1341, 1343 and 1346.
MANNER AND MEANS
It was part of the conspiracy that:
- BENIT used his position at EPS to misappropriate project funds allocated for the use and
benefit of EPS for his own use and the use of others.
- BENIT used his position at EPS to direct contracts for products and services at EPS for
the benefit of companies under his control or the control of his coconspirators; to instruct
vendors seeking contracts at EPS to purchase products or services from certain companies
to benefit companies under his control or the control of his coconspirators; to inflate the
value of contracts awarded to benefit companies under his control or the control of his
coconspirators; and to issue change orders increasing the value of the original contracts to
benefit companies under his control or the control of his coconspirators.
- The conspirators circumvented the rules, regulations, and procedures governing
contracting and procurement within EPS and under the E-Rate program.
- The primary entity for which BENIT secured contracts, either as a direct contractor or as
a subcontractor, was CORAL.
- MARY ANN ELAM, DOUGLAS A. BENIT, CORAL and others known and unknown
to the grand jury, created and prepared documents and other written materials that
contained materially false statements and omissions.
- MARY ANN ELAM, DOUGLAS A. BENIT, CORAL and others known and unknown
to the grand jury submitted and caused to be submitted the documents described in
Paragraph 18 with the intent to deceive and mislead officials responsible for approving
contracts and authorizing payments on invoices for products and services provided to
EPS.
- MARY ANN ELAM, DOUGLAS A. BENIT, CORAL and others known and unknown
to the grand jury concealed BENIT's relationship to CORAL from EPS officials who
approved contract awards and payments under the 1997 Building and School Bond Fund
and the EPS General Fund, from USAC officials who approved contract awards and
payments under the Federal E-Rate Program, and from others. One means by which
BENIT's relationship to CORAL was concealed was to name individuals, with or without
their knowledge, as CORAL employees on documents submitted by CORAL to EPS,
USAC and others. To further conceal and disguise the relationship between BENIT and
CORAL, BENIT and others assumed aliases.
- BENIT used his position at EPS to create requisition certificates, purchase orders, and
other documents necessary to cause to be paid the invoices submitted by CORAL and
others.
- EPS and USAC relied on the representations of BENIT and on the documents BENIT
submitted as an EPS official in awarding contracts and paying invoices.
- MARY ANN ELAM, DOUGLAS A. BENIT, CORAL and others known and unknown
to the grand jury endeavored to receive full payment on invoices submitted to EPS,
USAC, and companies to whom CORAL served as a subcontractor on projects at EPS.
- MARY ANN ELAM, DOUGLAS A. BENIT, CORAL and others known and unknown
to the grand jury transmitted from and received within the Eastern District of Michigan
documents related to projects at EPS through the United States mails, interstate delivery
services, and interstate facsimile.
- MARY ANN ELAM, DOUGLAS A. BENIT, CORAL and others known and unknown
to the grand jury used email and telephone to communicate from the Eastern District of
Michigan to persons outside the State of Michigan regarding projects at EPS.
OVERT ACTS
- In executing the conspiracy alleged in Paragraph 13, one or more
of the Defendants committed the following overt acts in the Eastern
District of Michigan and elsewhere:
CORAL'S CONTRACTS FOR PRODUCTS AND SERVICES AT EPS
CORAL's Projects at EPS
- The conspirators sought to obtain contracts for projects at EPS totaling approximately
$7,277,772.
- From in or about March, 1998 through in or about April, 2002, CORAL served as the
contractor or subcontractor on diverse projects at EPS.
The following are some examples of CORAL's projects at EPS:
On or about the following date: |
Value |
Project |
3/16/98 |
$14,800 |
Two Modules |
3/16/98 |
$15,425 |
Four Modules |
5/20/98 |
$45,920 |
Auto/Electronics Lab Phase I |
7/02/98 |
$63,580 |
Autotronic Laboratory Equipment |
8/06/98 |
$4,020 |
Technology Service |
4/29/99 |
$10,700 |
Speedlan |
8/22/99 |
$4,025 |
Cleaning of Technology Equipment |
8/29/99 |
$19,416 |
Computer Equipment |
9/01/99 |
$3,015.88 |
Moving the Computer Network |
10/26/99 |
$16,200 |
Engineering Site Survey and WAN Drawings |
12/06/99 |
$34,659 |
Wireless WAN |
1/24/00 |
$279,956 |
Security Camera System |
7/30/00 |
$1,992,000, with a contemplated extension of $2,040,000 |
Cabling |
9/06/00 |
$154,267 |
AT/EB Labs |
9/06/00 |
$143,908 |
A/C & Ref. Lab |
9/25/00 |
$511,317 |
CIM 2000 Lab |
10/30/00 |
$149,870 |
CIM 2000 Lab |
10/30/00 |
$22,900 |
AT/EB Labs |
11/29/01 |
$61,000 |
CIM 2000 Lab |
11/29/01 |
$22,624 |
A/C & Ref. Lab |
11/29/01 |
$18,833 |
AT/EB Labs |
4/16/02 |
$53,000 |
CIM 2000 Lab |
8/07/02 |
$47,545.64 |
Replacement Equipment |
9/02/02 |
$30,409.10 |
Replacement Equipment |
CORAL Projects That Did Not Receive Funding
- On or about October 7, 1999, USAC sent a letter to CORAL acknowledging receipt of
CORAL's E-Rate funding request totaling $97,000.
- On or about November 2, 1999, USAC notified CORAL that USAC approved $6,600 in
funding for Internal Connections (Shared) and denied the remaining requests for funding
because the services requested were ineligible products or services.
- On or about January 15, 2002, EPS issued a $577,427 change order to CORAL on the
1999 E-Rate contract. The change order is signed by MARY ANN ELAM on behalf of
CORAL and DOUGLAS A. BENIT on behalf of EPS and was contingent on E-Rate
funding.
- On or about January 17, 2002, the documents relating to CORAL's E-Rate funding
request were sent via U.S. Postal Express Mail from Ecorse, Michigan to USAC in
Kansas.
- On or about May 5, 2003, USAC denied funding for the change order to CORAL because
the product offered by CORAL was ineligible based on program rules.
BENIT's Role in Processing Payments for Contracts at EPS
- DOUGLAS A. BENIT, in his position at EPS, caused to be made documents certifying
the invoices for the projects described in Paragraph 28 to be appropriate for payment.
- Based on the documents submitted and representations made by the conspirators and
others, payments totaling approximately $4,335,001 were made for projects benefitting
CORAL at EPS.
Direct Payments to CORAL
- During the course of the conspiracy, CORAL sought payments directly from EPS for
projects at EPS. One such example occurred on or about November 30, 2001, when
BENIT caused to be made documents certifying three of CORAL'S invoices to be
appropriate for payment. On or about December 5, 2001, CORAL received payment in
the amount of $102,507. A second example occurred on or about April 18, 2002, when
DOUGLAS A. BENIT caused to be made documents certifying CORAL'S invoice for the
CIM 2000 lab dated April 17, 2002 to be appropriate for payment. On or about April 26,
2002, CORAL received payment in the amount of $53,000.
CORAL's Payment as a Subcontractor on the Security System Project at EPS
- On or about December 22, 1999, CORAL was identified by GE Contracting as the
subcontractor on a project to install a security system at EPS.
- GE Contracting received payment from EPS on this project.
- On or about January 22, 2001, GE Contracting certified to EPS that CORAL had been
paid $168,824.30 on the contract, with $14,756.84 outstanding to CORAL from GE
Contracting.
CORAL's Payment as a Subcontractor on the Cabling Project at EPS
- On or about January 2, 2000, CORAL submitted a bid to GE Contracting for a cabling
project at EPS, proposing five years of cabling work at EPS.
- GE Contracting received payment from USAC on this project.
- In April and May 2001, GE Contracting wired a total of $550,000 to CORAL.
- On or about January 10, 2002, an employee of CORAL sent via facsimile from CORAL's
offices in Cincinnati, OH to BENIT in the Eastern District of Michigan, a statement of monies owed to CORAL for work as a subcontractor to GE Contracting on the cabling
project.
- On or about January 18, 2002, BENIT, in his capacity at EPS, sent a letter to GE
Contracting demanding payment be made to CORAL.
- On or about June 11, 2002, CORAL caused to be filed a Complaint and Jury Demand in
the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Case No. 02-72405, seeking payment on the monies owed to CORAL from GE Contracting for work CORAL
performed at EPS on the cabling project.
- On or about May 2, 2003, CORAL caused to be filed in the United States District Court
for the Eastern District of Michigan, Plaintiff's Renewed Motion for Summary Judgment,
which attached a false and fraudulent exhibit, containing a forged signature of an EPS
official.
- During the course of the lawsuit, CORAL caused to be filed with the United States
District Court documents that contained material falsities or omissions of material facts.
- On or about July 29, 2003, the Honorable Robert H. Cleland, uninformed of the material
falsities and omissions of material facts in CORAL's submissions, entered partial
judgment in favor of CORAL in the amount of $294,832.66.
- On or about June 4, 2003, EPS was requested to pay a matching payment as required
under the E-Rate program for the cabling project. This $164,600 matching payment, remitted through a series of installments that ended on or about October 7, 2003, was
deposited into CORAL's bank account.
CORAL's Payment for the Sale of a Multicenter at EPS
- On or about March 16, 2001, DOUGLAS A. BENIT directed NEC, a company
contracting at EPS, to purchase a Degem Multicenter for EPS at a cost of $700,000.
- On or about June 18, 2001, BENIT transmitted an email regarding the purchase of the
Degem Multicenter from his EPS email account in Ecorse, Michigan, to NEC in Texas.
The subject reads "Forms for In-kind P.O."
- On or about June 18, 2001 NEC sent a subcontractor agreement to Degem's subsidiary,
ITE, for the purchase of a Degem Multicenter for delivery to EPS.
- DOUGLAS A. BENIT, in his position at EPS, caused to be made documents certifying
the invoices submitted by NEC to be appropriate for payment by USAC.
- On or about October 30, 2001, NEC caused to be delivered, via Federal Express, a check
to ITE for $350,000, which served as partial payment for the Degem Multicenter installed
at EPS.
- On or about November 13, 2001, $127,380 was wired in two transactions from ITE's
account at Bank of Leumi in Miami, Florida to CORAL's account at Key Bank in
Cleveland, Ohio.
- On or about March 14, 2002, NEC sent via Federal Express, a check to ITE for $140,000,
which represented final payment on the Degem Multicenter installed at EPS.
- On or about March 18, 2002, BENIT informed Degem that ITE received money for the
Multicenter and stated, "I need to have that money wired into my accounts also."
- On or about April 1, 2002, and on or about April 11, 2002, a total of $86,461.30 was
wired from Degem's account at Bank of Leumi in New York to CORAL's account at Key
Bank in Cleveland, Ohio.
BENIT'S ASSOCIATION WITH CORAL
- On or about January 7, 1999, DOUGLAS A. BENIT identified himself as Treasurer of
CORAL.
- On or about February 12, 2000, BENIT identified himself as the vice-president of
marketing for CORAL.
- On or about September 24, 2001, DOUGLAS A. BENIT identified himself as Chairman
and Chief Executive Officer of CORAL.
- On or about April 9, 2002, DOUGLAS A. BENIT identified himself as the CEO of
CORAL.
- On or about August 1, 2002, DOUGLAS BENIT identified himself as the "Chief
Executive Office" [sic] of CORAL.
- On or about January 24, 2003, DOUGLAS BENIT identified himself as CEO of CORAL.
- On or about April 17, 2003, DOUGLAS BENIT identified himself as the owner of
CORAL.
CONCEALMENT OF BENIT'S RELATIONSHIP TO CORAL
- On or about October 21, 1999, BENIT, using the name "JD Howen", sent a quote on
behalf of CORAL to a school official in Detroit, Michigan.
- On or about January 2, 2000, CORAL transmitted via facsimile to GE Contracting a bid
for cabling work at EPS. CORAL's fax was sent under the name "D.J. Howen".
- On or about November 29, 2000, BENIT, using the name "J.D. Howen, CFO", gave
notice to a CORAL employee that the employee will be laid off.
- In or around the Summer of 2001, BENIT caused to be issued a payment to a former
employee of CORAL known to the grand jury, in exchange for that employee's
agreement not to notify authorities of BENIT's relationship to both CORAL and EPS and
of contracts awarded to CORAL at EPS.
- In the course of the lawsuit filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern
District of Michigan by CORAL against GE Contracting, CORAL identified BENIT as an
EPS employee, but never revealed through Court filings that BENIT was also serving as
CEO of CORAL or otherwise had any relationship to CORAL.
- During Benit's tenure at EPS, he did not advise the Superintendent or the School Board
of his relationship to CORAL.
All in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371.
COUNT TWO
(18 U.S.C. § 666(a)(1)(A)Federal Program Fraud)
D-1 DOUGLAS A. BENIT
THE GRAND JURY FURTHER CHARGES THAT:
- Paragraphs 1-8, 14, 17-23, 36, 62-63 & 71 are hereby incorporated in this Count.
- During the period November 1, 2001 through October 31, 2002, EPS received benefits of
over $10,000 under a Federal program involving a grant, contract, subsidy, loan, and
other form of federal assistance.
- From on or about November 29, 2001 through on or about April 26, 2002, in the Eastern
District of Michigan and elsewhere, the Defendant, DOUGLAS A. BENIT, an employee
or agent of Ecorse Public Schools (EPS), did embezzle, steal, obtain by fraud or
otherwise without authority knowingly convert to the use of any person other than the
rightful owner or intentionally misapply property valued at $5,000 or more owned by or
under the custody, care and control of EPS, an organization or agency of a state or local
government which received benefits of over $10,000 in a one-year period under a Federal
program involving a grant, contract, subsidy, loan, guarantee, insurance and other form of
Federal assistance, to wit, BENIT caused EPS to pay $155,507, in two installments, for a
CIM 2000 Lab, AT/EB Lab, and A/C & Ref. Lab.
All in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 666(a)(1)(A).
COUNT THREE
(18 U.S.C. § 666(a)(1)(A)Federal Program Fraud)
D-1 DOUGLAS A. BENIT
THE GRAND JURY FURTHER CHARGES THAT:
- Paragraphs 1, 4-10, 17-23, 40, 49, & 71 are hereby incorporated in this Count.
- During the period June 1, 2003 through May 31, 2004, EPS received benefits of over
$10,000 under a Federal program involving a grant, contract, subsidy, loan, and other
form of federal assistance.
- From on or about June 4, 2003 through on or about October 7, 2003, in the Eastern
District of Michigan and elsewhere, the Defendant, DOUGLAS A. BENIT, an employee
or agent of Ecorse Public Schools (EPS), did embezzle, steal, obtain by fraud or
otherwise without authority knowingly convert to the use of any person other than the
rightful owner or intentionally misapply property valued at $5,000 or more owned by or
under the custody, care and control of EPS, an organization or agency of a state or local
government which received benefits of over $10,000 in a one-year period under a Federal
program involving a grant, contract, subsidy, loan, guarantee, insurance and other form of
Federal assistance, to wit, BENIT caused EPS to pay $164,600 in five installments for
matching payments on the E-Rate cabling contract.
All in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 666(a)(1)(A).
COUNT FOUR
(18 U.S.C. §§1341, 1346 & 2Mail Fraud)
D-1 DOUGLAS A. BENIT
D-2 MARY ANN ELAM
D-3 CORAL TECHNOLOGY, INC.
THE GRAND JURY FURTHER CHARGES THAT:
- Paragraphs 1, 4-8, 17-24, 29-31, 33, 40-42, 44-48, 50-58, 60-65, 67, & 69-71 are fully
incorporated herein.
- Beginning on or about March 1, 1999, up to and including July 29, 2003, in the Eastern
District of Michigan and elsewhere, the Defendants and others known and unknown to
the Grand Jury, devised and intended to devise a scheme and artifice to defraud EPS and
USAC as to a material matter and to obtain money and property, by means of materially
false and fraudulent pretenses, representations, and promises, and, to deprive EPS and
USAC of the right to DOUGLAS A. BENIT's honest services in the affairs of EPS and
USAC.
- On or about January 17, 2002, in the Eastern District of Michigan, the Defendants, for the
purpose of executing the scheme, knowingly caused to be sent through the United States
Postal Service or by a commercial interstate carrier, according to the directions thereon,
documents relating to CORAL's application for E-Rate funding, sent via U.S. Postal
Express Mail from Douglas A. Benit, Ecorse Public Schools, 27385 W. Outer Drive,
Ecorse, MI 48229 to SLD-Form 471, C/O Ms. Smith, 3833 Greenway Drive, Lawrence,
KS 66046.
All in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections
1341, 1346, and 2.
COUNTS FIVE & SIX
(18 U.S.C. §§ 1343, 1346 & 2Wire Fraud)
D-1 DOUGLAS A. BENIT
D-2 CORAL TECHNOLOGY, INC.
THE GRAND JURY FURTHER CHARGES THAT:
- Paragraphs 1, 4-10, 14, 17-23, 25, 29-31, 33, 40-48, 50-58, 60-65, 67, 69-71 are fully
incorporated herein.
- Beginning on or about March 1, 1999, up to and including July 29, 2003, in the Eastern
District of Michigan and elsewhere, the Defendants and others known and unknown to
the Grand Jury, having devised and intended to devise a scheme and artifice to defraud
EPS and USAC as to a material matter and to obtain money and property by means of
materially false and fraudulent pretenses, representations, and promises, and, to deprive
EPS and USAC of the right to DOUGLAS A. BENIT's honest services in the affairs of
EPS and USAC, and for the purpose of executing the scheme, knowingly transmitted and
caused to be transmitted by means of wire communication in interstate commerce, the
signals and sounds described below for each Count, each transmission constituting a
separate Count:
COUNT |
DATE |
DEFENDANT |
DESCRIPTION |
6 5 |
June 18, 2001 |
Douglas A. Benit
Coral Technology, Inc. |
E-mail transmitted from Benit's EPS email account in Ecorse, Michigan
to an EPS vendor in Texas. The subject reads "Forms for In-kind
P.O." |
7 6 |
January 10, 2002 |
Douglas A. Benit
Coral Technology, Inc. |
Statement of account history for GE Contracting for monies owed
to Coral Technology, Inc. transmitted via facsimile from Ohio to
the Eastern District of Michigan. |
All in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1343, 1346 &
2.
COUNT SEVEN
(18 U.S.C. §§ 1344, 2 Bank Fraud)
D-1 DOUGLAS A. BENIT
D-2 MARY ANN ELAM
- From on or about December 10, 2002 up to and including April 16, 2003, in the Eastern
District of Michigan and elsewhere, the Defendants, DOUGLAS A. BENIT and MARY
ANN ELAM, devised and intended to devise a scheme and artifice to defraud TCF
National Bank, an insured depository institution, as to a material matter, and to obtain
money, funds, credits, assets, securities, or other property owned by or under the custody
or control of TCF National Bank, namely, a loan, by means of materially false or
fraudulent pretenses, representations, or promises.
SCHEME TO DEFRAUD
- It was part of the scheme to defraud that BENIT would apply for a loan from TCF
National Bank, an insured depository institution.
- It was a further part of the scheme to defraud that BENIT and ELAM would falsely
represent BENIT's assets to TCF National Bank by making false statements to the bank
officer and by submitting fraudulent and false supporting documentation.
EXECUTION OF THE SCHEME
- On or about April 16, 2003, in the Eastern District of Michigan, the Defendants,
DOUGLAS A. BENIT and MARY ANN ELAM, knowingly executed the scheme and
artifice to defraud as set forth above, by causing TCF National Bank to issue DOUGLAS
A. BENIT a line of credit in the amount of $200,000.
All in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1344 & 2.
COUNT EIGHT
(18 U.S.C. § 1341Mail Fraud)
D-1 DOUGLAS A. BENIT
THE GRAND JURY FURTHER CHARGES THAT:
- Beginning on or about September 16, 2005 up to and including November
1, 2005, in the Eastern District of Michigan and elsewhere, the Defendant,
DOUGLAS A. BENIT, devised and intended to devise a scheme and artifice
to defraud First One Lending Corporation and New Century Mortgage Company
as to a material matter and to obtain money or property, namely, a loan
in the amount of $893,750, by means of materially false and fraudulent
pretenses, representations, and promises.
MATTER AND MEANS
- It was part of the scheme that the Defendant would apply for a mortgage on his residence
at 3140 Andora Drive, Superior Township, Michigan 48198.
- It was a further part of the scheme to defraud that the Defendant would submit and cause
to be submitted on his behalf a loan application and supporting documentation.
- It was a further part of the scheme to defraud that the Defendant would falsely represent
the amount of his assets and income during the application process.
THE USE OF THE MAILS
- On or about September 21, 2005, in the Eastern District of Michigan, the Defendant,
having devised and intended to devise a scheme and artifice to defraud as to a material
matter and to obtain money and property by means of materially false and fraudulent
pretenses, representations, and promises, and for the purpose of executing the scheme,
knowingly caused to be delivered through a commercial interstate carrier, according to
the directions thereon, a package sent via Federal Express from First One Lending
Corporation, 32122 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, California, 92675 to
Douglas Benit, 3140 Andora Drive, Ypsilanti, Michigan, 48198.
All in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1341.
FORFEITURE NOTICE
- The allegations contained in Counts One through Eight of this Indictment are realleged
and incorporated herein by reference for the purpose of alleging forfeiture pursuant to the
provisions of Title 28, United States Code, Section 2461(c).
- Pursuant to Title 28, United States Code, Section 2461(c), each Defendant who is
convicted of conspiracy to commit federal program fraud, mail fraud, and wire fraud as
set forth in Count One; federal program fraud as set forth in Counts Two and Three; mail
fraud as set forth in Counts Four and Eight; wire fraud as set forth in Counts Five and
Six; and bank fraud as set forth in Count Seven of this Indictment shall forfeit to the
United States all right, title, and interest in any and all property constituting or derived
from proceeds obtained directly or indirectly as a result of the aforesaid violations.
- The interests of Defendants BENIT, ELAM, and CORAL subject to forfeiture to the
United States pursuant to Title 18, United States Code, Section 982(a)(1), include, but are
not necessarily limited to, at least $2,293,535.54.
- The property subject to forfeiture includes, but is not necessarily limited to, real property,
commonly known as 3140 Andora Drive, Superior Township, Michigan, 48198.
- Pursuant to Title 21, United States Code, Section 853(p), as incorporated by Title 28,
United States Code, Section 2461(c), each Defendant shall forfeit substitute property, up
to the value described in Paragraphs 93-95 above, if by any act or omission of a
Defendant, the property described in Paragraphs 93-95 above, or any portion thereof,
- Cannot be located upon the exercise of due diligence;
- Has been transferred or sold to, or disposed with, a third party;
- Has been placed beyond the jurisdiction of the court;
- Has been substantially diminished in value; or
- Has been commingled with other property which cannot be divided
without difficulty.
All pursuant to Title 28, United States Code, Section 2461(c), and Rule 32.2(a) of the
Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure.
COUNT NINE
(18 U.S.C. §1956(h) Conspiracy to Launder Monetary
Instruments)
D-1 DOUGLAS A. BENIT
D-2 MARY ANN ELAM
D-3 CORAL TECHNOLOGY, INC.
D-4 SCHOOL MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.
- Paragraphs 1-11 are hereby incorporated in this Count.
- Beginning on or about August 12, 1999, and continuing through on or about October 1,
2003, the exact dates being unknown to the Grand Jury, within the Eastern District of
Michigan and elsewhere, the Defendants, DOUGLAS A. BENIT, MARY ANN ELAM,
CORAL TECHNOLOGY, INC. and SCHOOL MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC.,
together with others known and unknown to the grand jury, did unlawfully, willfully and
knowingly combine, conspire, confederate and agree together and with each other, and
with others known and unknown to the Grand Jury, to commit certain offenses under
Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1956 and 1957, as follows:
- to conduct and attempt to conduct a financial transaction affecting
interstate commerce, which transaction involved the proceeds of specified
unlawful activity, that is Federal Program Fraud, in violation of Title 18, United
States Code, § 666(a)(1)(A), Mail Fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States
Code § 1341 and Wire Fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code § 1343,
(1) with the intent to promote the carrying on of such specified unlawful activity
and (2) knowing that the transaction was designed in whole or in part to conceal
and disguise the nature, location, source, ownership, and control of the proceeds
of said specified unlawful activity, and that while conducting and attempting to
conduct such financial transaction knew that the property involved in the financial
transaction represented the proceeds of some form of unlawful activity, in
violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1956(a)(1); and
- knowingly to engage, attempt to engage and cause and aid and abet others
in engaging in monetary transactions in criminally derived property that was of a
value greater than $10,000, and was derived from a specified unlawful activity, in
violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1957.
MANNER AND MEANS
- It was part of the conspiracy that multiple financial accounts would be created and
maintained to receive and distribute the proceeds from the specified unlawful activity,
including financial accounts of BENIT, ELAM, CORAL and SMS.
- It was further part of the conspiracy that BENIT and ELAM would control these financial
accounts.
- It was further part of the conspiracy that BENIT, ELAM and others known and unknown
to the Grand Jury would conduct financial transactions to transfer the proceeds of the
specified unlawful activity among and between these accounts, and to third parties for the
benefit of ELAM and BENIT.
- It was part of the conspiracy that the proceeds would be used for the purchase and
improvement of 3140 Andora Drive, Superior Township, Michigan 48198.
All in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1956(h).
FORFEITURE NOTICE
- The allegations contained in Count Nine of this Indictment are hereby repeated, realleged,
and incorporated by reference herein as though fully set forth at length for the purpose of
alleging forfeiture pursuant to the provisions of Title 18, United States Code, Section
982(a)(1). Pursuant to Rule 32.2, Fed. R. Crim. P., notice is hereby given to Defendants
DOUGLAS A. BENIT, MARY ANN ELAM, CORAL TECHNOLOGY, INC., and
SCHOOL MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC. that the United States will seek forfeiture
as part of any sentence in accordance with Title 18, United States Code, Section 1956(h)
in the event defendant BENIT, ELAM, CORAL and SMS are convicted under Count
Nine of this Indictment.
- That as a result of the foregoing violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1956(h), upon conviction of
Count Nine, Defendants BENIT, ELAM, CORAL and SMS shall forfeit to the United
States any property, real or personal, involved in such offense, or any property traceable
to such property, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 982(a)(1).
- The interests of Defendants BENIT, ELAM, CORAL, and SMS subject to forfeiture to
the United States pursuant to Title 18, United States Code, Section 982(a)(1), include, but
are not necessarily limited to, at least $2,293,535.54.
- The property subject to forfeiture includes, but is not necessarily limited to, real property,
commonly known as 3140 Andora Drive, Superior Township, Michigan 48198.
- If any of the property described in Paragraphs 104-106 above as a result of any act or
omission of Defendants BENIT, ELAM, CORAL and SMS:
- Cannot be located upon the exercise of due diligence;
- Has been transferred or sold to, or deposited with, a third party;
- Has been placed beyond the jurisdiction of the court;
- Has been substantially diminished in value; or
- Has been commingled with other property which cannot be divided without
difficulty;
the Court shall order the forfeiture of any other property of Defendants BENIT, ELAM,
CORAL and SMS, up to the value to any property set forth in Paragraphs 104-106 above.
- Defendants BENIT, ELAM, CORAL and SMS, and each of them, are jointly and
severally liable for the forfeiture obligations as alleged above.
All pursuant to Title 18, United States Code, Section 982(a)(1) and Rule 32.2(a) of the
Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure.
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THIS IS A TRUE BILL
S/Grand Jury Foreperson
FOREPERSON
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/S/ Stephen J. Murphy, III
STEPHEN J. MURPHY, III
United States Attorney
Eastern District of Michigan
/S/ Thomas O. Barnett
THOMAS O. BARNETT
Assistant Attorney General
/S/ Scott D. Hammond
SCOTT D. HAMMOND
Deputy Assistant Attorney General
/S/ Marc Siegel
MARC SIEGEL
Director of Criminal Enforcement
Antitrust Division
U.S. Department of Justice
| /S/ Scott M. Watson
SCOTT M. WATSON
Chief, Cleveland Field Office
/S/ Antoinette T. Bacon
ANTOINETTE T. BACON
[474696-DC]
JON R. SMIBERT
[653645 -GA]
Attorneys
Antitrust Division
U.S. Department of Justice
Plaza 9 Building
55 Erieview Plaza, Suite 700
Cleveland, OH 44114-1836
Telephone: (216) 522-4084
Fax: (216) 522-8332
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Dated: May 23, 2006
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