Linda Diane Wallis, aka Lynn Wallis Miller, 51, of Fairfax, was charged by criminal information for her alleged role in three fraud schemes totaling over $1 million in losses, including embezzling $653,000 from Virginia State Senator Richard Saslaw’s campaign fund.
According to the criminal information, Wallis is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud for allegedly participating in three separate fraud schemes from in or around January 2013 through in or around February 2014. In the first scheme, Wallis, along with a co-conspirator, D.M., created two fraudulent companies, the first known as Federal Legal Associates, and the second was The Straile Group. Through various methods including fraudulent wire transfers and checks, Wallis allegedly caused approximately $368,400 in loss to Company A.
The second scheme alleged in the criminal information details the embezzlement of approximately $653,000 from the campaign account of Sen. Saslaw. Beginning in or around June 2013 to September 2014, Wallis served as the treasurer of the Saslaw for State Senate campaign. During that time, Wallis issued or caused to be issued, approximately 73 fraudulent checks from the Saslaw for State Senate campaign bank account, which totaled approximately $653,000. Wallis made the checks payable to Federal Legal Associates, The Straile Group, and herself. All of the checks were issued without knowledge or permission of Senator Saslaw or his campaign staff, and were deposited into accounts she independently controlled or that were jointly controlled with D.M.
The third scheme detailed in the criminal information alleges misuse of funds from a nonprofit charitable organization, of which Wallis was Executive Director and D.M. co-founded. The non-profit, known as The Community College Consortium on Autism and Intellectual Disabilities (CCCAID), claimed to provide assistance to Community Colleges for program development and implementation and information on the availability of resources for sustainability of programs. In or about April 2010, Wallis established CCCAID’s bank account and between in or about April 2010 to in or about April 2013, community colleges located around the country contributed approximately $293,000 to CCCAID. Additionally, a Bulgarian businessman associated with D.M. donated $500,000 to CCCAID. The funds contributed to CCCAID were to be used to further the mission of the organization and not to enrich Wallis or D.M. Despite these restrictions, from in or about April 2010 to in or about August 2014, Wallis authorized approximately $482,000 in transfers from CCCAID’s account to other bank accounts Wallis and D.M. controlled. A significant percentage of the $482,000 CCCAID was used to pay Wallis’ and D.M.’s personal expenses, such as mortgage payments, expenses related to food/restaurants, and merchandise purchases.
Wallis faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison if convicted. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; and Paul M. Abbate, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Uzo Asonye is prosecuting the case.
A criminal information contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.