From US States Attorney Bill Nettles:
United
States Attorney Bill Nettles stated today that Rubin Taylor, age 24, and Mary
Taylor, age 28, both of Lake City, South Carolina, entered a guilty plea in
federal court in Florence to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and education loan
fraud, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371.
United
States District Judge R. Bryan Harwell of Florence accepted the plea and will
impose sentence after he has reviewed the presentence report which will be
prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.
Evidence
presented at the change of plea hearing established that the Taylors made an
agreement between themselves and enlisted the aid of their ten co-defendants,
and others, to enroll at online schools to make it appear they would be
attending classes. Federal applications for student aid were submitted on
behalf of the Taylors and their co-defendants.
Federal financial aid was
awarded to the Taylors and others and sent to their schools, with the excess
funds being sent to the Taylors and others. The Taylors obtained personal
information from others so that they could be enrolled in school with the
purpose of receiving money. This resulted in losses of approximately
$100,000.00.
Mr. Nettles
stated the maximum penalty each defendant can receive is a fine of $250,000.00
and/or imprisonment for 5 years, plus a special assessment of $100.00.
The case was
investigated by agents of the Department of Education and the United States
Secret Service. Assistant United States Attorney William E. Day, II of
the Florence office handled the case.
All content © Copyright 2000 - 2013 WorldNow and WMBF, a Raycom Media Station.
