Former Collections Manager Arrested For Defrauding Former Employer Of Over $1.3 Million

Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that ROILAND GOTIANGCO was arrested on fraud and aggravated identity theft charges in connection with his embezzlement from the security and protection company (the “Company”) where he previously worked as the Head of Collections.  Specifically, GOTIANGCO has been charged with wire fraud and aggravated identity theft for falsifying customer refund requests and pocketing the refunds, and with wire fraud for accepting payments from certain Company customers in exchange for concealing the amounts those customers owed the Company.  GOTIANGCO was arrested today in River Edge, New Jersey, and was presented before Magistrate Ona T. Wang in Manhattan federal court.

Manhattan U.S. Geoffrey S. Berman said: “Roiland Gotiangco abused his position and lined his own pockets to the tune of over $1.3 million.  The means were sophisticated but the motive was simple:  greed.  We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to root out fraud wherever it is found.”

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ROILAND GOTIANGCO, 38 of River Edge, New Jersey, is charged with two counts of wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.  The wire fraud counts each carry a maximum potential sentence of 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense.  The aggravated identity theft charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of two years in prison consecutive to any other term of imprisonment imposed and a maximum fine of $250,000.  The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.

Mr. Berman praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI.

This case is being handled by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit.  Assistant United States Attorney Jilan J. Kamal is in charge of the prosecution.

The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.