El Paso Man Arrested for Defrauding His Employer

EL PASO - An El Paso man was arrested today on criminal charges related to his alleged involvement in a scheme to defraud his employer.

According to court documents, Ricardo Robles, 40, was employed by a company to negotiate and purchase its supplies. Instead, Robles created numerous sham companies and, unbeknownst to his employer, arranged for his employer to purchase those supplies from the bogus companies at an inflated price. Robles is alleged to have then pocketed the profits for his personal use.

Robles is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and 20 counts of wire fraud. If convicted, Robles faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney Ashley C. Hoff of the Western District of Texas and FBI Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey Downey, El Paso Division, made the announcement.

The FBI is investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Mangels is prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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