Chubbuck Man Indicted For Wire Fraud and Theft of Government Funds

BOISE - Travis John Attanasio, 53, of Chubbuck, Idaho, was indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury in Boise for wire fraud and theft of government funds, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced.

The indictment alleges that between June 29, 2012, and October 30, 2014, Attanasio defrauded a disabled veteran and the federal government of $259,563.12.  Attanasio served as the fiduciary for the veteran and instead of conserving the veteran’s funds and monthly benefits from the Veteran’s Administration and Social Security Administration, he spent them at various retail and online vendors.  The indictment further alleges that during the time Attanasio received and spent the funds, he knew that the veteran lived in a state veteran’s home and was disabled.

The charge of wire fraud is punishable by up to 20 years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000.00, and up to three years of supervised release.  The charge of theft of government funds is punishable by up to 10 years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000.00 and up to three years of supervised release.

The case is being jointly investigated by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs Office of Inspector General and the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General with assistance from the Pocatello Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney as part of a partnership venture between the Social Security Administration Office of General Counsel and the United States Attorney’s Office to prosecute social security fraud.

An indictment is a means of charging a person with criminal activity.  It is not evidence.  The person is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.