Jury Convicts Man of Retaliation Against Federal Officer

RICHMOND, Va. – A federal jury convicted a Chester man late yesterday of retaliating against a federal agent by false claim, and bankruptcy fraud.

According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Shapat Nabaya, aka Norman Abbott, 60, filed numerous civil lawsuits and a false mechanic’s lien against an IRS revenue officer in retaliation for the officer filing a lien on Nabaya’s pension after Nabaya had failed to pay his federal taxes for several years. Nabaya also filed a false involuntary bankruptcy petition against the same revenue officer in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.

Nabaya faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison when sentenced on Jan. 19, 2018. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Kimberly Lappin, Special Agent in Charge, Washington, D.C. Field Office, IRS-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), made the announcement after U.S. District Judge M. Hannah Lauck accepted the verdict. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gabrielle Michalak and Jessica D. Aber are prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 3:17-cr-03.