FORT WAYNE, Ind. (AP) - A Fort Wayne man has been sentenced to a year in prison and ordered to pay $566,000 in restitution for a tuition reimbursement scam involving dozens of former employees of a British defense contractor.
Thirty-six-year-old Robin C. Opper also was sentenced to three years supervised release. Federal prosecutors announced the sentencing Tuesday.
Prosecutors say defense giant BAE Systems, with operations near Fort Wayne’s Baer Field, was told in 2016 that some employees had been signing up for courses but not following through and then pocketing the money. Prosecutors say Opper devised the scheme, recruited co-workers to participate and pay him a fee, and provided them with fraudulent documents.
Prosecutors say 31 defendants have been convicted of wire fraud charges and ordered to pay restitution to BAE of more than $800,000.
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