A Duson man pleaded guilty in federal court to a scheme to defraud a Eunice pipeline company out of more than $2.6 million, according to Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook in announcement Wednesday.
Richard Walter Borek Jr., 43, of Duson, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Patrick Hanna to one count of wire fraud. The plea will become final when accepted by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth E. Foote.
According to the guilty plea, Borek worked as the information technology (IT) manager for a Eunice pipeline company from 2012 to 2016. He conducted a scheme where he bought cell phones and electronic tablets using company funds from two nationwide cellular phone companies. He then sold them online to another company and kept the money for his own personal use. He also sold web hosting services and computer equipment to the pipeline company through his own company called Statix even though the web hosting services were being provided by another company and the computer equipment was never delivered to the pipeline company’s office. The loss from both schemes resulted in both cell phone companies charging the pipeline company $2,436,487 and Statix charging the pipeline company $236,234.14 for a total loss to the pipeline company of $2,672,721.14.
Borek faces 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, restitution and a $250,000 fine. The court set a Dec. 7 sentencing date.
The FBI conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Myers P. Namie is prosecuting the case.