TWO PLEA GUILTY HERE IN $250MM IOS COUPON FRAUD

Special to the Readers of Milwaukeeworld.com

By Michael Horne

And The Milwaukee World Hound Dog Team


Two plant managers indicted in the International Outsourcing Services (IOS) $250 million coupon fraud case pleaded guilty in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin yesterday, Tuesday, April 7th, 2009, according to Bud Miller of the Coupon Information Corporation (CIC), an industry trade group.
Ovidio H. Enriquez and David J. Howard were two of the defendants charged in a 27-count indictment in the scam. They will be sentenced later.

Although the case included nationwide and international corporations and acts, the initial investigation took place in Milwaukee by FBI Special Agent Steve Vitale, U.S. Postal Inspector Jim Murphy, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephen Ingraham and Rick Frohling.

Co-Defendants also charged in the fraud include:
Thomas “Chris” Balsiger-IOS Chief Operating Officer, President, and later, CEO
Bruce A. Furr-IOS Chairman of the Board and CEO
Steven A. Furr – IOS Exec VP, board member, President of IOS’s North American Operations
Lance A. Furr – IOS Vice President, board member, and CFO
William L. Babler – IOS CFO
James C. Currey – President of Currey, Adkins, IOS Advisory Board
Howard R. McKay - IOS Consultant, Sales Manager and IOS Advisory Board
Daxesh V. Patel – President of Riya Coupon Services, LLC
Bharatkumar K. Patel – Vice President of Riya Coupon Services, LLC

Their cases remain, including a request to move the trial from Milwaukee.

IOS was originally charged in the scheme, but the company was removed from the case and later sold.


Indictment in Case 2:07cr-0057

ios plantmanagers plead guilty in $250 million coupon fraud.zip