Huntington Man Defrauded Banks And Customer Of $1 Million

GREAT NECK, NY — Marcello Sozio, the former operator of Andi Hyperbarics LLC, a hyperbaric oxygen chamber business based in Great Neck and Chicago, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to wire fraud in connection with a scheme to defraud banks and a customer of his business, the Department of Justice announced.

When sentenced, Sozio, 62, of Huntington, faces up to 20 years in prison. As part of his guilty plea, Sozio agreed to pay around $1.1 million in restitution.

"Sozio committed a fraud trifecta by duping lenders, cheating his business partners and
stealing from the parent of a child for treatment he never provided," United States Attorney
Richard P. Donoghue said via press release.

William F. Sweeney, Jr., FBI assistant director-in-charge, added "Stealing from anyone is criminal, however stealing from a parent seeking treatment for a child is unconscionable. It may often seem as though white collar crimes don’t really impact people because it is mostly about money. However, this case proves the devastating real life consequences criminals can have on their victims."

Between March 2014 and December 2016, Sozio applied for and obtained about $770,000 in loans for a business offering hyperbaric oxygen services as a form of medical treatment. In the applications submitted to lenders, Sozio falsely represented that his business partners had authorized him to apply for these loans on their behalf. Sozio used the loan proceeds for his personal benefit, leaving his former partners liable for the full amount.

Additionally, between September 2016 and December 2016, Sozio charged the parent of
a minor child, who had received some hyperbaric oxygen treatments, approximately $230,000
for services that he falsely claimed had been provided.

"Liars, cheats and scammers should know that karma is always a handcuff away," Philip R. Bartlett, USPIS inspector-in-charge, said.