A De Pere couple and two other northeastern Wisconsin residents face federal charges in connection with a scheme that prosecutors say may have caused a loss of up to $1.5 million.
Chad and Gina L. Schampers of De Pere, Nathaniel R. Smith of Oconto and Jeffrey M. O’Brien of Shawano have been indicted on a federal charge of conspiracy to commit wire and bank fraud, as well as nine counts of wire fraud.
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A wire-fraud conviction carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine. Each wire fraud count carries maximums of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Federal prosecutors allege that the four were involved in a home-remodeling business, Summit Contracting Inc. The indictment alleges that the defendants induced Summit’s customers to unwittingly apply for high-interest financing based on false information and to sign forms that falsely stated that work on their remodeling projects had been completed.
Prosecutors also allege that the defendants withdrew money from customers’ finance accounts before performing any work or, in some cases, before ordering building supplies. The fraud is alleged to have caused a loss of $1.5 million.
The FBI is seeking people who might have been victims of the alleged Summit…
