Former federal fraud investigator gets 2-year prison term for fraud
azstarnet.com | 4/10/08 | Associated Press
A former federal agent was sentenced Wednesday to more than two years in prison for stealing more than $1.1 million from bank accounts of fraud suspects.
Scott Allen Gompert, 43, of Phoenix, who pleaded guilty in October to bank fraud and to forging a court officer's signature, was sentenced in federal court in Tucson, the Justice Department said.
Gompert pleaded guilty to fraudulently seizing the money during investigations and using it to buy land and a car, and to pay off his mortgage, officials said.
Gompert was a special agent with the Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Inspector General who had investigated health-care fraud.
Under the plea agreement, he agreed to forfeit about $550,000 in cash, an auto and land for development in Peoria, a Phoenix suburb. Court documents indicated he intended to go into the business of building high-end homes.
Authorities said Gompert identified bank accounts with funds that came from fraudulent activity.
Three times during investigations in 2005 and 2006, he prepared fraudulent seizure warrants directing financial institutions to provide cashiers' checks made out to a fake government seizure account he established, they said.
Gompert had faced up to 35 years in prison and fines totaling more than $1.2 million.
Gompert's attorney, Patricia Gitre, did not immediately return a call seeking comment. When her client pleaded guilty, she said, he took responsibility for his acts.