A former Military monetary counselor was sentenced this week to greater than 12 years in jail for utilizing his place to defraud Gold Star households out of tens of millions, the Justice Division introduced this week.
Caz Craffy, also called “Carz Craffey,” 42, pleaded responsible in April after officers charged him with a number of fees, together with six counts of wire fraud.
Because of the scheme, the Gold Star households — family members of service members who gave the final word sacrifice — misplaced greater than $3.7 million, whereas Craffy earned greater than $1.4 million in commissions.
Along with the jail time period, a federal choose sentenced Craffy to 3 years of supervised launch and ordered forfeiture of $1.4 million, in keeping with a division launch, which added that restitution will probably be decided at a later date.
“Craffy made a aware resolution to defraud Gold Star households affected by shedding their cherished one who paid the final word sacrifice serving this nation,” FBI Particular Agent in Cost James Dennehy stated within the announcement.
“They believed Craffy was appearing of their greatest curiosity, however as an alternative, he was utilizing their cash as a technique to make his personal,” he stated. “Heartless and despicable don’t even start to sum up his crimes.”
From November 2017 to January 2023, Craffy was a civilian Military worker, working as a monetary counselor with the Casualty Help Workplace, accountable for offering recommendation to the surviving beneficiaries of deceased troops who will be eligible for tons of of 1000’s of {dollars} in compensation.
From Might 2018 to November 2022, he obtained greater than $9.9 million from Gold Star households to spend money on accounts he managed on his personal and out of doors the system, repeatedly executing trades usually with out the households’ authorization, incomes himself excessive commissions within the course of, the discharge states.
He let the overwhelming majority of them mistakenly consider his administration of their cash was completed on behalf of and with the Military’s authorization.
Authorities pursued Craffy — who can be a serious within the U.S. Military Reserve, the place he has served since 2003 — following an investigation by The Washington Publish.
The U.S. Securities and Alternate Fee has a pending civil criticism towards Craffy based mostly on the identical and extra conduct, in keeping with the feds, and Craffy has been completely prohibited from affiliation with any member of the Monetary Trade Regulatory Authority Inc.
The Military Reserve acknowledged Craffy acquired his federal sentence, however declined to say whether or not he’s anticipated to face extra punishment by the navy.
“The U.S. Military Reserve stays dedicated to holding personnel accountable for conduct that doesn’t align with DoD and Military insurance policies,” Military Reserve spokesperson Lt. Col. Addie Leonhardt informed Navy Instances in a press release. “Nevertheless, the Military Reserve typically can not touch upon pending navy personnel issues.”
Craffy’s lawyer declined a request for remark.
Jonathan is a workers author and editor of the Early Hen Transient publication for Navy Instances. Observe him on Twitter @lehrfeld_media
