Man Sentenced to 11 Years for Fraud

Walter Holmich, 68, of Tampa, Florida, owner of two businesses that operated as government procurement companies, has been ordered to serve 130 months (10 years, 10 months) in federal prison and to pay restitution in the amount of $780,190.
U.S. District Judge Sue E. Myerscough ordered that Holmich be taken into the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service following the sentencing hearing on November 26, 2012.
In May, immediately prior to opening statements at trial, Holmich pleaded guilty to four counts of wire fraud related to a scheme that defrauded various businesses of approximately $4.5 million. The scheme involved Holmich’s two companies, WH Logistics and ISWS, which operated as government procurement companies and were represented as Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Businesses. The companies submitted bids to provide various products to U.S. government agencies, including branches of the military. The companies then sought a subcontractor to provide the product and fulfill the federal contract. Invoices were submitted to the government for payment and Holmich and the companies were paid the funds; however, subcontractors were not paid for their products that had been delivered to various agencies. Products sought and received by various government agencies included lawnmowers, all-terrain vehicles, welding equipment, hepa filters, and trucks.
Two of Holmich’s employees, Ronald Hawker, and Lavada Lyons, aka Cindy Davis, both of Tampa, who previously entered pleas of guilty for their respective roles in the scheme to defraud, were also sentenced on November 26. Both were sentenced to serve one year and one day in the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons and to pay restitution jointly and severally with Holmich. Both were ordered to report to the Bureau of Prisons on a date to be determined by the BOP.
Holmich was also ordered to forfeit various vehicles to the government including a 2005 Mercedes; two 2008 Hummer sport utility vehicles; a 2003 BMW; a 1998 Hummer; a 2006 Aston Martin DB9 coupe auto; 2007 Jeep; two pick-up trucks; and a 2009 Chevy Malibu.
The charges were investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason M. Bohm.