FBI Arrests Dallas Technology Company’s Former Lead Systems Engineer on Mail Fraud and Money Laundering Charges
DALLAS — Albert Shih-Der Chang, a former Lead Systems Engineer for a Dallas technology company known as One Technologies, was arrested at his residence in Fairview, Texas, this morning by special agents with the FBI on an indictment charging federal felony offenses stemming from his approximate $2.4 million theft or embezzlement from the company, announced U.S. Attorney John Parker of the Northern District of Texas.
A federal grand jury in Dallas returned the 11-count indictment yesterday charging Chang with 10 counts of mail fraud and one count of money laundering. Chang, 35, made his initial appearance in federal court this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Renée Harris Toliver and was released on bond with conditions.
According to the indictment, from approximately October 4, 2004, through August 15, 2014, Chang worked for One Technologies, initially as its Network/Systems Administrator and later as its Lead Systems Engineer.
The indictment alleges that from approximately June 2008 through August 2014, Chang devised and ran a scheme to defraud One Technologies by causing the company to pay more than $2.4 million as a result of his false and fraudulent pretenses, representations and promises. Chang caused One Technologies to transfer funds, based on material representations, to financial accounts he controlled, and Chang caused One Technologies to purchase products, purportedly for the company’s use, that Chang later converted to his own use.
To carry out his scheme, Chang allegedly created fictitious companies and opened bank accounts or PayPal accounts for them, rented mailboxes for them, and contracted for virtual offices for them with mail forwarding services. He also created and submitted fictitious purchase requisitions, orders, invoices, and receipts that One Technologies paid.
The money laundering count alleges that from approximately April 15, 2013, until May 30, 2013, Chang wired-transferred nearly $300,000 from his joint account at Chase Bank to a title company to purchase a residence on Stone Hinge Drive in Fairview, and that funds transfer involved the proceeds of the fraud.
An indictment is an accusation by a federal grand jury, and a defendant is entitled to the presumption of innocence unless proven guilty. However, if convicted, the maximum statutory penalty for each mail fraud count is 20 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. The money laundering count, upon conviction, carries a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. Restitution could also be ordered. The indictment also includes a forfeiture allegation that would require the defendant, upon conviction, to forfeit any property that constitutes or was derived from proceeds traceable to the fraud, including his residence in Fairview.
The FBI is in charge of the investigation and the Fairview Police Department assisted with the arrest. Assistant U.S. Attorney C.S. Heath is in charge of the prosecution.
