Tampa, Florida – Crispian Atkins (52, Valrico) has been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Virgina M. Hernandez Covington to 12 years in federal prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft. As part of his sentence, the court also ordered Atkins to pay $3,017,667.53 in restitution and to forfeit $1,563,292.24, the proceeds of his criminal conduct. Atkins pleaded guilty on May 20, 2026. U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe made the announcement.
According to court documents, between May 2021 and March 2024, Atkins and several co-conspirators defrauded 10 victim-companies, located throughout the United States, that provide employment and payroll services, as well as financial funding. Atkins falsely represented to the victim-companies that he had business contracts with other companies to perform IT-related work, and that he needed the victim-companies’ services to fulfill those contracts. The victim companies agreed to provide financial funding or hire Atkins and his co-conspirators as “temporary employees” to complete the purported work. Atkins submitted fraudulent timesheets to the victim-companies that reflected work performed by the “temporary employees,” and the victim-companies paid Atkins and his associates, via wire transfers, according to those timesheets. Atkins and co-conspirators then transferred the fraudulently obtained proceeds to other accounts, withdrew proceeds in cash to conceal their source, and shared in the fraudulently obtained proceeds.
This case was investigated by the FBI Las Vegas Division, Reno Resident Agency, and the FBI Tampa Division, with assistance from the Norwood (MA) Police Department and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ross Roberts.
The forfeiture is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney James A. Muench. On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.