Latest Legal News from the Federal Criminal Courts in the United States

July 05, 2007

TEXARKANA MAN CONVICTED OF OIL FIELD FRAUD

United States Attorney Johnny Sutton announced that a federal jury in Midland this morning convicted 50-year-old Dennis Keith Chambers of Texarkana, Texas, of wire fraud following a two-day jury trial.

Trial testimony established that in May 2006, Chambers negotiated a transaction whereby Chambers promised to provide 10,000 feet of tubing to Green's Pipe Service, Inc., of Odessa, in exchange for $16,000. Sammy Green, proprietor of Green's Pipe Service, testified that on May 5, 2006, he received a faxed invoice from Chambers, who was in Texarkana, Arkansas, at the time. After receiving the invoice, and relying on it, Green wire-transferred $16,000 to Chambers to complete the purchase. In subsequent weeks, Green made numerous phone calls and sent demand letters to Chambers in an attempt to either obtain his tubing or get his money back, all to no avail. Green went to authorities in August 2006.

Chambers faces up to twenty years in federal prison and a maximum $250,000 fine. United States District Judge Robert Junell has scheduled sentencing for September 29, 2007.
The case was investigated by the Texas Rangers. Assistant United States Attorney John Klassen prosecuted for the Government.

More...»