OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – A man and woman from Omaha were sentenced in federal court for their parts in a wire fraud scheme that defrauded multiple government programs.
According to a release from the office of United States Attorney Lesley A. Woods, 52-year-old Brian Smith and 50-year-old Myria Phaisan, both of Omaha, were sentenced in federal court for conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
Smith will serve 27 months in prison followed by a three-year term of supervised release, and was ordered to pay over $455,000 in restitution.
Phaisan was sentenced to a five-year term of supervised release, and was ordered to pay over $225,000 in restitution.
There is no parole in the federal system.
A third defendant, identified as Syed Hussain, has not been apprehended by law enforcement. Hussain is charged with the following:
- One count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud
- Five counts of wire fraud
- One count of…
MANAGEMENT & CULTURE (THE “TONE AT THE TOP”)
Fraud thrives in “sloppy” environments where leadership ignores the rules.
- The Fraud Triangle: For fraud to occur, three elements must be present: Pressure (the need for money), Rationalization (thinking “I deserve this”), and Opportunity (weak controls). You can only control the Opportunity.
- Whistleblower Hotline: Provide an anonymous way for staff to report “odd behavior.” Most internal frauds are caught via tips, not audits.
- Background Checks: Conduct credit and criminal record checks for all employees in financial or data-sensitive roles.
- Annual Ethics Training: Make sure every staff member knows that the company has a Zero Tolerance policy toward “borrowing” from petty cash or fudging overtime.