Albuquerque couple sentenced to federal prison in Ayudando Guardians case | USAO-NM

ALBUQUERQUE, NM – Susan K. Harris, 74, and William S. Harris, 60, both of Albuquerque, were convicted in federal court today of conspiracy to commit United States fraud and other financial crimes related to the Ayudando Guardians operation. Inc., a not for profit that has previously provided guardianship, conservatory, and financial management to hundreds of people with special needs.

Susan Harris was sentenced to 47 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release. William Harris was sentenced to 15 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Both must pay the victims the entire amount of the stolen money as compensation.

An indictment filed on December 5, 2017, charged Susan Harris, William Harris, Sharon A. Moore, 64, and Susan Harris’ son Craig M. Young, 53, with various financial crimes, including conspiracy to defraud the United States, postal fraud, more serious Identity Theft and Money Laundering.

Susan Harris pleaded guilty to conspiracy, postal fraud, aggravated identity theft, money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering on July 11, 2019. William Harris pleaded guilty to cheating and money laundering in the United States on June 25, 2019. Both Susan Harris and William Harris were originally scheduled to be sentenced on March 2, 2020, but did not appear at their sentencing hearing. An arrest warrant was issued for their arrest and the U.S. Marshals Service arrested them in Shawnee, Oklahoma on April 15, 2020 after they fled New Mexico.

According to her plea agreements and other court records, Susan Harris served as president and 95 percent owner of Ayudando, while Moore served as chief financial officer and was five percent owner. From November 2006 to July 2017, you committed criminal behavior which included, among other things, the unlawful transfer of funds from customer accounts to an account with socialization without any customer-related justification. They wrote and certified numerous checks, often over $ 10,000, from these merged accounts to themselves, family members, cash, and other parties where the payment would benefit their families.

Susan Harris took steps to maintain Ayudando’s semblance of legitimacy, including submitting a proposal to the New Mexico Office of Guardianship that contained numerous misrepresentations, including a false claim that Young was a certified guardian at the time of submission.

William Harris, who worked as a guardian, admitted that he knew Moore was skimming payments to clients from the Department of Veterans Affairs and Social Security Administration and using the money on behalf of Harris and her co-conspirators. Harris specifically admitted receiving, advocating, and depositing dozens of checks on Ayudando accounts for his personal benefit. Harris admitted that he was involved in a money laundering program where he used an Ayudando corporate credit card for personal expenses, knowing it would be paid for with customer funds. He also admitted his role in a loan application for the stated purpose of expanding Ayudando’s business, with the ultimate intention of using the money to “repay” customers whose money was withdrawn without authorization.

The stolen funds were used to fund an extravagant lifestyle, including the purchase of homes, vehicles, luxury RVs, and cruises, as well as a private box in “The Pit” at the University of New Mexico. The stolen funds were also used to pay more than $ 4.4 million in American Express fees incurred by the defendants and their families.

“The verdicts the defendants received today are fair, and the defendants fully deserve them,” said Fred J. Federici, acting US attorney for New Mexico. “The conduct of the defendants in hunting down those with special needs whom they were entrusted to protect was both abhorrent and despicable. We hope these rulings serve as a warning to others that we will seek to hold anyone accountable who decides to violate federal law by abusing a similar relationship of trust for personal gain. “

“Taking advantage of disabled veterans and other vulnerable Americans deserves a stiff penalty, especially if those in charge of their finances use the money instead for vacation and other expensive perks,” said Raul Bujanda, FBI Albuquerque Field Office special agent. “The FBI will never stop holding such criminals accountable and ensuring that their victims get justice.”

“This final phase of the investigation will hopefully bring some closure to the many victims who have suffered the defendants’ selfish actions,” said Sonya K. Chavez, United States Marshal for New Mexico District. “We at the United States Marshals Service will continue to work diligently with our partners to protect the citizens of New Mexico, especially the most vulnerable.”

“The criminal acts of these defendants were really brazen and egregious,” said Albert Childress, the IRS special commissioner for the criminal investigation department. “Instead of helping people who put their trust in them, the defendants were greedy and used their clients’ money. You must now bear the consequences for your bad deeds. “

“Today’s conviction reflects the egregious crimes committed by the accused who violated not only the trust of the public but also the trust of a vulnerable population who relied on them to administer their benefits. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate organizations and individuals who abuse social security benefits that they have agreed to manage on behalf of beneficiaries, ”said Adam Schneider, Special Representative for the Inspector General’s Social Security Administration Office, Dallas Field Division. “I thank our law enforcement partners for their excellent investigative work and the District of New Mexico District Attorney’s Office for their efforts to bring these individuals to justice.”

“Crimes by would-be trustees are most heinous because they violate the trust of veterans and jeopardize the benefits on which they depend,” said Rebeccalynn Staples, Special Representative for Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General. “This sentence should send a clear message that VA OIG will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to track down those who would defraud VA and steal the benefits of deserving veterans.”

Young pleaded guilty on November 12, 2019 and was sentenced to five years and eleven months in prison on June 11, 2020, followed by three years of supervised release. Young was ordered to pay approximately $ 6.8 million in compensation to the victims of the fraudulent plan.

Moore pleaded guilty on July 11, 2019 and was sentenced to 20 years in prison on March 2, 2020, followed by three years of supervised release. Moore was ordered to pay the entire amount of money stolen to the victims as compensation.

The FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office and the Phoenix Field Office of IRS Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Complex Assets Unit and the US Marshals Service, the Criminal Investigations Division of the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General, and the Dallas Field Division of the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General. US assistant attorneys Jeremy Peña and Brandon L. Fyffe are pursuing the case.

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