Defendant in debt relief scam sentenced to 11 years in prison
A Las Vegas man has been sentenced to just over 11 years in federal prison for his role in a debt relief scheme that defrauded 66 people out of $206,919.
Henry Lee Stuckey, 41, who operated two debt relief companies, pleaded guilty in February to one count of mail fraud, one count of wire fraud and one count of simple assault.
The assault charge stemmed from a 2011 altercation between Stuckey and his federal probation officer in Las Vegas. Stuckey was on supervised release at the time for a felony identity theft conviction.
On Tuesday, Senior U.S. District Judge Philip M. Pro ordered Stuckey to pay the $206,919 stolen in the debt relief scam to his victims as restitution.
In exchange for advance fees, Stuckey's companies falsely told clients in 2009 and 2010 that they could help them reduce their credit and mortgage debts, according to Nevada U.S. Attorney Daniel Bogden. Stuckey ended up using the fees for personal expenses, Bogden said in a statement Wednesday.
"The U.S. attorney's office in Nevada has been aggressively prosecuting persons who are committing investment and mortgage fraud crimes," Bogden said. "Most recently, we have been targeting fraudsters, such as this defendant, who are taking advantage of persons in difficult economic times.
"Because of the strength of our federal laws pertaining to white collar crime, most of these fraudsters are receiving long prison sentences."
Stuckey's co-conspirator in the scheme, Marilyn Stewart, 39, of Philadelphia, is awaiting trial, before Senior U.S. District Judge Lloyd D. George.
Contact Jeff German at jgerman@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-8135.
