Ex-Oregon National Guard worker accused in $6.4M fraud case
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – A former non-military employee of the Oregon National Guard is accused of seeking $6.4 million in fraudulent reimbursements from the U.S. Department of Defense for work that was never completed.
The Oregonian/OregonLive reports 46-year-old Dominic Caputo appeared Monday in federal court in Portland, pleading not guilty to counts of wire fraud and making a false statement in a document.
Caputo managed the repair of small-engine parts and generators at Camp Withycombe outside Portland. The federal indictment claims he submitted false work orders and sought fake reimbursements for repairs on 1,380 engines, generators and other parts from 2012 through November 2014.
Caputo has retained defense lawyers David Angeli and Tyler Francis. He remains out of custody.
A trial date has been tentatively set for Nov. 20.
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News release from U.S. Attorney’s Office:
OREGON MILITARY DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEE CHARGED WITH WIRE FRAUD AND MAKING FALSE STATEMENTS
PORTLAND, Ore. – Dominic Caputo, 46, of Clackamas County, Oregon, was indicted today on allegations that, as a civilian program manager for the Oregon National Guard Oregon Sustainment Maintenance Site (OSMS), he submitted false reimbursement requests to the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command (CECOM) and misrepresented the operational status of equipment used to maintain a war-ready posture.
The court unsealed a five-count indictment alleging Caputo falsely certified that the refurbishment of equipment was complete or in-process. Caputo’s certifications prompted CECOM to remit payment for more than 1,300 pieces of equipment at a cost of more than $6 million to OSMS with the expectation the equipment was ready to be shipped to other military installations and put back into service, when it was not.
Caputo faces four counts of wire fraud, and one count of false statements in a document.
Caputo made his initial appearance in federal court today before U.S Magistrate Judge Beckerman and was released pending trial. A 7-day jury trial is scheduled for November 20, 2018 before U.S. District Court Judge Anna J. Brown.
An indictment is only an accusation of a crime, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
