Former Darien Man Who Scammed Navy Veteran Sentenced: Feds

NORWALK, CT — A 35-year-old Norwalk man, who federal prosecutors said stole more than $57,000 from a former United States Navy service member, was sentenced last week to six months in prison for the crime, according to authorities.

Christopher Teixeira, formerly of Darien, additionally must serve two years of supervised release following his incarceration, said U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant in Hartford. Teixeira pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud in October of 2018, and he also must make full restitution to the victim and the Navy Federal Credit Union.

The case dates back to 2017 when the victim was scheduled to receive a medical severance payment from the U.S. Navy through the Defense Finance and Accounting Service's "MyPay" online portal.

"The victim provided his MyPay login and password information to Teixeira, who he trusted with certain financial responsibilities," according to a statement from U.S. Attorney John Durham and Jeffery Thorpe, special agent in charge of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service Cyber Field Office. "On January 10, 2017, before the victim was to receive the medical severance payment, Teixeira changed the victim's direct deposit information to a bank account controlled by Teixeira. DFAS then sent the victim's $57,255.66 medical severance payment to Teixeira's account. In order to avoid detection, Teixeira logged back into the victim's MyPay account and reverted the direct deposit instructions back to the victim's bank account."

Teixeira and the victim communicated after Teixeira stole the medical severance payment, but instead of admitting to the theft, Teixeira told the victim that he would assist in finding the money, according to prosecutors. When the victim indicated he was in need of funds, Teixeira transferred approximately $6,500 to the victim without telling him that Teixeira had stolen the money.

Prosecutors said that investigators discovered that Teixeira also defrauded the Navy Federal Credit Union of $25,736.95 by taking out a personal loan and opening a credit card in the victim's name. Teixeira used the stolen funds to pay his own personal expenses, and transferred $25,000 to another individual's account.

"Unauthorized access of Department of Defense networks and the victimization of American warfighters present significant risks to U.S. national security and Department of Defense operations, and DCIS special agents will aggressively hunt down and bring cyber criminals to justice," Thorpe said. "This sentencing is the direct result of a joint investigative effort between DCIS and the Defense Finance and Accounting Service Criminal Investigations Branch to vigorously investigate individuals who illegally access Department of Defense networks and those that would exploit American warfighters that have served their country. We remain vigilant in our efforts to safeguard the integrity of the Department of Defense and its enterprise of information technology systems."

Teixeira, who currently is free on bond, is required to report to prison on January 8, 2020.

This matter was investigated by the Defense Criminal Investigative Service and the Defense Finance and Accounting Service. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer R. Laraia.