June 8, 2009

AURORA MAN ARRESTED FOR HIS INVOLVEMENT IN A SCHEME TO STEAL $700,000 FROM LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

DENVER – David I. Hillman, age 30, of Aurora, Colorado, was arrested by Special Agents with the IRS and the FBI last week for money laundering and making false statements to federal agents, Acting U.S. Attorney David Gaouette, IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Christopher Sigerson, and FBI Special Agent in Charge James Davis announced.  Hillman appeared in U.S. District Court in Denver on June 5, 2009, where he was arraigned.  He is free on a $10,000 unsecured bond.  A tentative trial date of July 27, 2009 has been set.

David I. Hillman was indicted by a federal grand jury in Denver on April 20, 2009.  That indictment was sealed pending Hillman’s arrest, which took place on June 3, 2009.

According to the indictment, in September 2001, and continuing through August 2005, David Hillman allegedly conspired with another person to engage in money laundering.  Specifically, the defendant is accused of conspiring with an employee of Great-West Life and Annuity Insurance to embezzle and spend over $700,000 in stolen funds.  The defendant and the Great-West Life employee illegally obtained the money via wire fraud.

The indictment further alleges that on September 8, 2008, Hillman knowingly made materially false, fictitious and fraudulent statements to the FBI and IRS-Criminal Investigations when asked about the source of the funds.

If convicted of conspiracy to commit money laundering, the defendant faces not more than 10 years in federal prison, and up to a $250,000 fine.  The penalty for engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from specified unlawful activity and aiding and abetting is not more than 10 years imprisonment and up to a $250,000 fine per count for 5 counts.  If convicted of making a false statement Hillman faces not more than 5 years in federal prison, and up to a $250,000 fine.  He also faces the forfeiture of a 1999 Nissan Skyline.

This case was investigated by Special Agents with the IRS Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

Hillman is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tim Neff.

These charges are only allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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