UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF SOUTH CAROLINA
ORANGEBURG DIVISION
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
v.
CYNTHIA K. AYER
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Cr. No. 5:06-453
18 U.S.C. § 1341
18 U.S.C. § 1343
21 U.S.C. § 853
18 U.S.C. § 981(a)(1)(C)
18 U.S.C. § 982(b)(1)
28 U.S.C. § 2461(c)
18 U.S.C. § 2
Filed: 4/19/06
INDICTMENT
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COUNTS ONE THROUGH SIX
MAIL FRAUD
(18 U.S.C. § 1341, 18 U.S.C. § 2)
THE GRAND JURY CHARGES:
INTRODUCTION
At all times relevant to this Indictment, unless otherwise stated:
THE FEDERAL E-RATE PROGRAM
1. The Universal Service Fund for Schools and Libraries (the "E-Rate
program") was created by Congress in the Telecommunications Act of 1996
and operated under the auspices of the Federal Communications Commission
("FCC") to provide Internet connectivity and other technology to schools
and libraries across the United States. The FCC designated the Universal
Service Administrative Company ("USAC"), a non-profit corporation, to
administer the E-Rate program. The E-Rate program collected substantial
quantities of money monthly from telecommunications customers across
the country to fund the program.
2. The E-Rate program was designed to ensure that the neediest schools
receive the most financial help. All participating school districts
were required to fund a percentage of the cost of the equipment and
services acquired under the E-Rate program (hereinafter referred to
as "co-pay"). The amount of the co-pay was based on the number of students
in the district qualifying for the United States Department of Agriculture's
school lunch program, with the neediest school districts eligible for
the highest percentage of funding. However, even the neediest schools
were required to fund at least ten percent of the cost of the acquired
equipment.
3. One method by which school districts ultimately received payments
from the E-Rate program was by filing a Billed Entity Application Reimbursement
Form ("BEAR Form" or "FCC Form 472"). Before a BEAR Form could be filed,
USAC rules required that the service provider fully complete work on
an E-Rate project and that the school district pay the service provider
in full for the project. After receiving a BEAR Form containing these
assurances, USAC disbursed a check in the amount of the project cost,
minus the district's co-pay, to the service provider. The service provider
was then obligated to forward the E-Rate funds to the school district
within ten days.
4. During the relevant period, school district applications for E-Rate
funding far exceeded the funding available. USAC had the following rules
and procedures to ensure that E-Rate funding was distributed to the
widest number of qualifying applicants:
- only USAC-approved equipment, services, and supplies were eligible
for funding;
- schools could seek funding only for projects for which the schools
had budgeted funds for their co-pay amount and for the purchase of the
end-user equipment and services necessary to utilize the applied-for
equipment;
- service 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
- 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.
BAMBERG COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT ONE
5. Bamberg County School District One ("Bamberg One") was a rural
school district consisting of five schools located in Bamberg, South
Carolina. Superintendent A, whose identity is known to the Grand Jury,
served in that position at Bamberg One during a period that included
the dates April 1, 1999, through June 30, 2000. Superintendent B, whose
identity is known to the Grand Jury, served in that position at Bamberg
One during a period that included the dates July 1, 2000, through February
1, 2003.
THE DEFENDANT
6. CYNTHIA K. AYER ("the defendant") was an employee of Bamberg One
and operated a sole proprietorship company, Go Between Communications
a/k/a Go Between Telecommunications ("Go Between"). From the time she
was hired as a computer technician at Bamberg One in April 1999, the
defendant was the only employee of the school district who had any significant
computer technology expertise. The defendant used her expertise and
the trust placed in her by Superintendent A and Superintendent B to
assume virtually complete control of applications by Bamberg One for
E-Rate funding.
THE SCHEME TO DEFRAUD
7. From on or about April 1, 1999, through on or about February 1,
2003, in the District of South Carolina and elsewhere, CYNTHIA K. AYER
knowingly and willfully devised and intended to devise a scheme and
artifice to defraud, and to obtain money and property by means of materially
false and fraudulent pretenses, representations, and promises, and by
omissions of material facts, from USAC, well knowing at the time that
the pretenses, representations, and promises would be and were false
and fraudulent when made, and that the omissions would be and were material.
Through this scheme and artifice to defraud, the defendant attempted
to obtain $3,521,373.81 and succeeded in obtaining $468,496.00 in payments
from USAC.
MANNER AND MEANS OF THE SCHEME
8. The goal of the scheme was for the defendant to enrich herself
through the submission of fraudulent E-Rate applications to USAC.
9. It was part of the scheme that the defendant submitted the following
fraudulent E-Rate applications to USAC:
- 1999 Fiber Application
In or about January 2000, the defendant submitted to USAC a BEAR Form
that contained materially false statements that her company, Go Between,
had delivered all of the required goods and services pursuant to Bamberg
One's 1999 Fiber application and had been paid in full by Bamberg One.
The defendant forged Superintendent A's signature on the BEAR Form.
The fraudulent BEAR Form requested, and USAC paid to Go Between, $121,700.00
in E-Rate funds. The defendant kept this money.
- 1999 Wiring Application
In or about April 1999, the defendant awarded an additional and duplicative
computer wiring project to her company, Go Between, without conducting
a competitive bidding process and submitted an application to USAC for
a commitment of funds ("FCC Form 471"). In or about February 2000, the
defendant submitted to USAC a BEAR Form that contained materially false
statements that Go Between had delivered all of the required goods and
services pursuant to the 1999 Wiring application and had been paid in
full by Bamberg One. The fraudulent BEAR Form requested, and USAC paid
to Go Between, $220,384.80 in E-Rate funds. The defendant kept this
money.
- 1999 Telecenter IP Application
In or about April 1999, the defendant forged Superintendent A's signature
on a contract for her company, Go Between, to install a Telecenter IP
system at Bamberg One. The defendant submitted the forged contract to
USAC, along with an application seeking a commitment of $187,062.40
in E-Rate funds. The amount sought by the defendant was inflated and
was not the result of a competitive bidding process.
- 1999 PBX Application
In or about April 1999, the defendant forged Superintendent A's signature
on a contract for her company, Go Between, to install a PBX telephone
system at Bamberg One. The defendant submitted the forged contract to
USAC, along with an application seeking a commitment of $176,955.62
in E-Rate funds. The application itself contained Superintendent A's
forged signature and materially false statements regarding a purported
agreement for Go Between to perform the PBX work along with Vendor A,
the identity of which is known to the Grand Jury. The amount sought
by the defendant was inflated and was not the result of a competitive
bidding process. The defendant subsequently filed a fraudulent BEAR
Form seeking payment of $176,955.62, even though neither Go Between
nor Vendor A had installed a PBX telephone system at Bamberg One.
- 1999 E-mail Servers/Network Maintenance Application
In or about April 1999, the defendant forged the signatures of Superintendent
A and the owner of Vendor B, the identity of which is known to the Grand
Jury, on two contracts for Vendor B to provide computer network maintenance
and email servers to Bamberg One. The defendant also forged Superintendent
A's signature on a contract for her company, Go Between, to provide
computer network maintenance to Bamberg One. The defendant submitted
the forged contracts to USAC, along with an application seeking a commitment
of $156,304.00 in E-Rate funds. Subsequently, the defendant induced
the owner of Vendor B to apply for disbursement of $68,944.00 in E-Rate
funds from USAC even though Vendor B did not perform any work at Bamberg
One. The defendant also filed two BEAR Forms with USAC that contained
materially false statements and the forged signature of the owner of
Vendor B. USAC disbursed $68,944.00 to Vendor B, and the owner of Vendor
B forwarded the funds to Bamberg One. The defendant subsequently submitted
fraudulent invoices to Bamberg One and obtained $29,952.00 of the E-Rate
funds for herself.
- 1999 File Servers Application
In or about April 1999, without conducting a competitive bidding process,
the defendant submitted to USAC an application seeking a commitment
of $32,224.00 in E-Rate funds for her company, Go Between, to provide
file servers to Bamberg One. After USAC committed the funds, the defendant
forged Superintendent A's signature on a BEAR Form seeking disbursement
of the funds, even though the file servers were not provided to Bamberg
One. The BEAR Form sought, and USAC disbursed to Go Between, $32,224.00.
The defendant forwarded the money to Bamberg One.
- 2000 Wiring Application
In or about January 2000, without conducting a competitive bidding process,
the defendant submitted to USAC an application seeking commitment of
$458,123.20 in E-Rate funds for her company, Go Between, to perform
wiring work at Bamberg One. The defendant did not have an agreement
with Bamberg One for Go Between to perform any additional wiring work
at that time.
- 2000 Network Maintenance Application
In or about January 2000, without conducting a competitive bidding process,
and without the knowledge of Superintendent A or the owner of Vendor
C, the defendant submitted to USAC an application and contracts for
her company, Go Between, and Vendor C to provide computer network maintenance
at Bamberg One, seeking a commitment of $80,688.00 in E-Rate funds for
the work purportedly to be completed by Go Between and Vendor C, the
identity of which is known to the Grand Jury. The defendant forged Superintendent
A's signature on the application.
- 2000 Conduit, Raceway & PBX Application
In or about January 2000, without conducting a competitive bidding process,
the defendant submitted to USAC an application seeking a commitment
of $288,001.09 in E-Rate funds for her company, Go Between, to provide
conduit and raceway to Bamberg One and for Vendor A to provide a PBX
telephone system to Bamberg One. Vendor A was not aware of the application.
The defendant forged Superintendent A's signature on the application,
and she fabricated the supporting documentation that purportedly described
the work to be performed by Vendor A.
- 2001 Network Maintenance Application
In or about January 2001, without conducting a competitive bidding process
and without the knowledge of Superintendent B or the owner of Vendor
C, the defendant drafted contracts for her company, Go Between, and
Vendor C to provide computer network maintenance to Bamberg One. The
defendant submitted the contracts to USAC along with an application
seeking commitment of $89,970.00 in E-Rate funds for the work purportedly
to be completed by Go Between and Vendor C. After USAC committed funds
for work by Vendor C, the defendant submitted an application to USAC
to change the vendor from Vendor C to Go Between (a "SPIN change") that
contained additional materially false statements. The defendant subsequently
submitted two BEAR Forms to USAC seeking disbursement of committed funds,
and USAC sent checks in the amounts of $6,318.00 and $19,179.00 to Go
Between. The defendant did not cash the checks or forward them to Bamberg
One.
- 2001 Wiring Application
In or about January 2001, without conducting a competitive bidding process
and without the knowledge of Superintendent B, the defendant submitted
an application to USAC seeking commitment of $532,608.40 in E-Rate funds
for additional wiring work to be completed by her company, Go Between,
at Bamberg One. After USAC committed $163,026.00 for a portion of the
work, the defendant submitted a BEAR Form to USAC containing materially
false statements that Go Between had completed the work and that Bamberg
One had paid Go Between in full. USAC subsequently sent a check in the
amount of $16,302.60 to Go Between. The defendant did not cash the check
or forward it to Bamberg One.
- 2001 Raceway Application
In or about January 2001, without conducting a competitive bidding process
and without the knowledge of Superintendent B, the defendant submitted
an application to USAC seeking commitment of $68,961.60 in E-Rate funds
for her company, Go Between, to install raceway at Bamberg One. The
defendant forged Superintendent B's signature on the application. After
USAC committed $25,243.20 for the work, the defendant submitted to USAC
a BEAR Form that contained materially false statements that Go Between
had delivered all of the required goods and services and had been paid
in full by Bamberg One. The fraudulent BEAR Form requested, and USAC
paid to Go Between, $25,243.20 in E-Rate funds. The defendant kept this
money.
- Multiple 2002 Applications
In or about January 2002, without conducting a competitive bidding process,
the defendant submitted nine separate applications to USAC seeking commitments
totaling $1,108,390.70 in E-Rate funds for her company, Go Between,
and Vendor B to perform work at Bamberg One. The defendant submitted
the applications using an electronic signature for Superintendent B.
Superintendent B did not authorize the applications, did not know that
an electronic signature had been assigned to her, and did not authorize
the defendant to use it. The applications sought the following amounts
for Go Between and Vendor B:
Vendor |
Product/Service |
Amount
|
Go Between |
Uninterruptible Power Supply |
$ 18,363.96 |
Go Between |
Raceway/Conduit |
79,431.00 |
Go Between |
Servers |
169,911.00 |
Go Between |
Server Upgrades |
18,357.40 |
Go Between |
Wiring |
646,140.64 |
Go Between |
Routers |
61,458.06 |
Go Between |
Computer Network Maintenance |
40,716.00 |
Vendor B |
Computer Network Maintenance |
52,461.00 |
Go Between |
PBX(1) |
10,775.82 |
Go Between |
PBX(2) |
10,775.82 |
Total |
|
$ 1,108,390.70 |
The defendant forged the signature of the owner of Vendor B on a contract that
she submitted to USAC.
USAC committed $815,486.48 for work to be performed by Go Between
and $37,485.00 for work to be performed by Vendor B. Before the defendant
could apply for disbursement of any of these funds, she resigned from
her position at Bamberg One.
EXECUTION OF THE SCHEME
10. On or about the dates set forth below, in the District of South
Carolina, the defendant, for the purpose of executing and attempting
to execute the scheme and artifice to defraud, did knowingly deposit
and cause to be deposited with the United States Postal Service or the
United Parcel Service, a commercial interstate carrier, to be delivered
from Bamberg, South Carolina, to USAC in Whippany, New Jersey or Lawrence,
Kansas, as indicated, the following fraudulent E-Rate forms, each such
mailing constituting a separate count of this Indictment:
COUNT |
DATE |
CONTENTS |
FROM |
ADDRESSEE
and ADDRESS |
1
|
9/25/2001 |
Letter regarding Vendor C SPIN change |
Bamberg One |
SPIN Change Report
School and Libraries Division
Box 127
80 S. Jefferson Road
Whippany, NJ |
2 |
1/16/2002 |
Eight separate FCC
Form 471s |
Bamberg One |
SLD-Form 471
c/o Ms. Smith
3833 Greenway Dr.
Lawrence, KS 66046 |
3 |
1/17/2002 |
FCC Form 471 |
Bamberg One |
SLD-Form 471
c/o Ms. Smith
3833 Greenway Dr.
Lawrence, KS 66046 |
4 |
6/20/2002 |
Two separate FCC
Form 472s |
Bamberg One |
SLC-BEAR Form
P.O. Box 7026
Lawrence, KS
66044-7026 |
5 |
7/9/2002 |
FCC Form 486
regarding Vendor C
SPIN change |
Bamberg One |
SLD-Form 486
P.O. Box 7026
Lawrence, KS
66044-7026 |
6 |
10/26/2002 |
Two separate FCC
Form 472s |
Bamberg One |
SLC-BEAR Form
P.O. Box 7026
Lawrence, KS
66044-7026 |
In violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1341 and § 2.
COUNTS SEVEN THROUGH TEN
MAIL FRAUD
(18 U.S.C. § 1341, 18 U.S.C. § 2)
1. The Grand Jury repeats and realleges Paragraphs 1 through 9 of
Counts 1 through 6 of this Indictment as setting forth a scheme and
artifice to defraud USAC with the same force and effect as if fully
set forth herein.
2. On or about the dates listed below, in the District of South Carolina,
CYNTHIA K. AYER, for the purpose of executing and attempting to execute
the scheme and artifice to defraud, did knowingly cause to be delivered
by the United States Postal Service from USAC in Boston, Massachusetts,
to herself in Bamberg, South Carolina, the following checks, each such
mailing constituting a separate count of this Indictment:
COUNT |
DATE |
CONTENTS |
FROM |
ADDRESSEE
and ADDRESS |
7 |
7/12/2002 |
$25,243.20 check to
Go Between |
USAC |
Go Between Communications
Cindy Ayer
709 Faust Street
Bamberg, SC 29003 |
8 |
12/5/2002 |
$19,719.00 check to
Go Between |
USAC |
Go Between Communications
Cindy Ayer
709 Faust Street
Bamberg, SC 29003 |
9 |
12/26/2002 |
$16,302.60 check to
Go Between |
USAC |
Go Between Communications
Cindy Ayer
709 Faust Street
Bamberg, SC 29003 |
10 |
1/23/2003 |
$6,318.00 check to
Go Between |
USAC |
Go Between Communications
Cindy Ayer
709 Faust Street
Bamberg, SC 29003 |
In violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1341 and § 2.
COUNTS ELEVEN AND TWELVE
WIRE FRAUD
(18 U.S.C. § 1343, 18 U.S.C. § 2)
1. The Grand Jury repeats and realleges Paragraphs 1 through 9 of
Count 1 through 6 of this Indictment as setting forth a scheme and artifice
to defraud USAC with the same force and effect as if fully set forth
herein.
2. On or about the dates listed below, in the District of South Carolina,
the defendant, for the purpose of executing the scheme and artifice
to defraud, did knowingly transmit and cause to be transmitted, by means
of wire in interstate commerce, facsimile transmissions from Bamberg,
South Carolina, containing the following articles of correspondence
to USAC in Whippany, New Jersey, each such facsimile transmission constituting
a separate count of this Indictment:
COUNT |
DATE |
DESCRIPTION |
11 |
9/30/2002 |
Facsimile containing a fraudulent invoice |
12 |
10/23/2002 |
Facsimile containing materially false statements |
In violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1343 and § 2.
FORFEITURE ALLEGATIONS
1. Upon conviction for one or more violations of Title 18, United
States Code, Section 1341 (mail fraud), and Section 1343 (wire fraud)
as charged in Counts 1 through 12 of this Indictment, the Defendant,
CYNTHIA K. AYER, shall forfeit to the United States any property,
real or personal, which constitutes or is derived from any proceeds
the Defendant obtained, directly or indirectly, as the result of such
violations, and any property traceable to such property.
2. Pursuant to 21 U.S.C. § 853, as incorporated by 18 U.S.C.
§ 981(a)(1)(C), 18 U.S.C. § 982(b)(1), and 28 U.S.C. 2461(c),
the property which is subject to forfeiture upon conviction of the Defendant
for the violations charged in Counts 1 through 12 of this Indictment
includes, but is not limited to, the following:
- Proceeds/Money Judgment:
The sum of $468,496.00 in United States currency, and all interest and
proceeds traceable thereto, in that such sum in the aggregate constitutes
proceeds the Defendant obtained, directly or indirectly, as the result
of her violations of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1341 and 1343 as charged
in Counts 1 through 12, including, but not limited to, the following:
- New York Life Insurance Company Policy #58 223 380
Policyholder: Doris Ayer, mother of Cynthia K. Ayer
First contingent beneficiary: Cynthia K. Ayer
$220,384.80 in proceeds directly traceable to policy
Cash value: $567,025.67 as of March 27, 2006.
3. If any of the property described above, as a result of any act
or omission of the Defendant:
- 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;
it is the intent of the United States, pursuant to 21 U.S.C. §
853(p), as incorporated by 18 U.S.C. § 981(a)(1)(c), 18 U.S.C.
§ 982(b)(1) and 28 U.S.C. § 2461(c), to seek forfeiture of
any other property of the said Defendant up to the value of the forfeitable
property described above, including, but not limited to, the following:
- Real Property:
All of the Defendant's right, title and interest in and to certain real
property, together with all improvements thereon and with all rights
and easements appertaining, said property being more fully described
as follows:
- 3126 Faust Street
Bamberg, South Carolina
Bamberg County, South Carolina
Titled in the name of: Cynthia Ayer
"All those two certain lots of land situated in the Town and County
of Bamberg, State of South Carolina, and being designated as lots 5
and 6, as shown on plat of Section 1 of Northwood Subdivision dated
January, 1977, by Ernest R. Bryan, Jr., RLS, and recorded in the office
of the Clerk of Court for Bamberg County in Plat Book 15, at Page 4,
and when taken together having the following boundaries and measurements,
to wit: On the Northeast by Lot # 7 on said plat and measuring thereon
Two Hundred (200) Feet; on the Southeast by Faust Street, and measuring
thereon Three Hundred Twelve Feet (312) feet; on the Southwest by Lot
4 on said plat, and measuring thereon Two Hundred feet; and on the Northwest
by Lot #14 and portions of Lots 13 and 15, and measuring thereon in
the aggregate Three Hundred Twelve (312) feet.";
- Investment Accounts:
- New York Life Insurance Company Policy #58 223 380
Policyholder: Doris Ayer, mother of Cynthia K. Ayer
First contingent beneficiary: Cynthia K. Ayer
$220,384.80 in proceeds directly traceable to policy
$222,868.00 in substitute assets
Cash value: $567,025.67 as of March 27, 2006;
- New York Life Insurance Company Policy #63675053
Policyholder: Cynthia K. Ayer
Cash value: $15,979.51 as of March 27, 2006;
- Mass Mutual Financial Group Policy #ART105019
Policyholder: Cynthia K. Ayer
Cash value: $24,598.81 as of December 31, 2005; and
- Keyport Life Insurance Company Account #KA12488407-01
Policyholder: Cynthia K. Ayer
Cash value: $32,508.46 as of December 17, 2006.
All pursuant to Title 21, United States Code, Section 853; Title 18,
United States Code, Sections 981(a)(1)(C) and 982(b)(1); and Title 28,
United States Code, Section 2461(c).
Dated this 19th day of April, 2006.
A TRUE BILL
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A TRUE BILL
_______________/s/________________
Foreperson
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_______________/s/________________
THOMAS O. BARNETT
Assistant Attorney General
SCOTT D. HAMMOND
Deputy Assistant Attorney General
MARC SIEGEL
Director of Criminal Enforcement
_______________/s/________________
REGINALD I. LLOYD (DAE)
United States Attorney
District of South Carolina
1441 Main Street, Suite 500
Columbia, SC 29201
Tel: (803) 929-3000
Fax: (803) 254-2943
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NEZIDA S. DAVIS
Chief, Atlanta Field Office
KAREN SAMPSON JONES
SALLY B. MOLLOY
BROOKS MACKINTOSH
Trial Attorneys
Antitrust Division
U.S. Department of Justice
75 Spring St., S.W., Suite 1176
Atlanta, GA 30303
Tel: (404) 331-7100
Fax: (404) 331-7110
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