Robert Buckhannon, from Las Vegas, prioritizes his patients’ well-being, believing that a strong doctor-patient relationship is key to a healthy life. Raised in Phoenix, Arizona, with younger siblings, he was deeply influenced by his mother’s illness during his childhood, inspiring him to pursue a career in medicine to help others achieve optimal health.
Robert Buckhannon is jailed for a fraud scheme against a mortgage lender.
Robert Buckhannon, 59, from Las Vegas, Nevada, has been sentenced to 24 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Janet T. Neff for his involvement in a scheme to defraud a California mortgage lender. Following his release, he will undergo two years of court supervision and must pay $467,213.98 in compensation to his victims, along with a $1,000 fine.
Buckhannon admitted guilt in July 2019 to conspiring to commit wire fraud in a federal courtroom in Grand Rapids. He confessed to sending fake lease agreements and rent checks totaling $42,000 in annual rental income to persuade the mortgage lender to loan $456,000 to On Deck Sports Bar & Grill, owned by co-defendant Kelly DeMoss.
In reality, the establishment had only one tenant, the restaurant itself. After obtaining the loan, Buckhannon and DeMoss used $36,500 to purchase a personal house without disclosing it to the lender, which had no mortgage.
The decision of Judge Neff was influenced by Buckhannon’s prior conviction in Nevada for wire fraud conspiracy related to the Vestium Equity Fund, for which he was required to compensate victims with $239,686.19 and is currently serving a three-year probationary term.
Kelly Flees, Buckhannon’s co-defendant, received one year of federal probation and $30,654.42 in restitution for her involvement. She was found guilty of misprision of a felony for knowing about the fraud and failing to report it to the authorities.
The case was investigated by the Grand Rapids ATF office and the Battle Creek Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant US attorneys Erin Lane and Christopher O’Connor.
United States v. Robert Buckhannon
What is a Wire Fraud?
Wire fraud involves utilizing the internet or telecommunication systems to perpetrate fraudulent activities. This can encompass various mediums such as phone calls, faxes, emails, text messages, or social media messages. The consequences for wire fraud may include imprisonment and/or financial penalties.
- Wire fraud entails utilizing the internet or telecommunication systems.
- Various electronic communication channels, including phones, fax machines, emails, social media, SMS, and text messages, can be utilized in such criminal activities.
- Wire fraud, deemed illegal and subject to severe penalties and imprisonment, often involves communications spanning state or international borders.
Wire Fraud: An Overview
The key elements of wire fraud, outlined in Section 941.18 U.S.C. 1343 of the Criminal Resource Manual of the U.S. Department of Justice, include:
1) Knowingly participating in a conspiracy to defraud another of money.
2) Acting with fraudulent intent.
3) Foreseeable use of interstate wire communications.
4) Deployment of wire communications across state lines.
For the federal offense of wire fraud, penalties can include up to 20 years in prison and fines of up to $250,000 for individuals and $500,000 for companies. The statute of limitations for filing charges is typically five years, except in cases targeting financial institutions, where it is extended to 10 years.
In specific circumstances, such as during a presidentially declared state of emergency or when targeting a financial institution, wire fraud can incur a sentence of up to 30 years in prison and fines of up to $1 million.
Proof of wire fraud does not necessitate direct contact with the victim or the transmission of fraudulent messages personally; demonstrating fraudulent intent or knowledge of the transmission of false communications is sufficient.
Background on Wire Fraud
In the past, con artists relied on telephones to make countless calls in pursuit of vulnerable targets. Today, the internet’s vast reach enables fraudsters to operate online, utilizing fake profiles, tales of hardship, and promises of wealth or love to ensnare victims—all with poor grammar and spelling.
While traditional phone calls are still utilized, it’s crucial to recognize and delete suspicious letters or requests for money to avoid falling prey to wire fraud.