Two Houston-area men are facing federal charges after being accused of defrauding companies of $39 million at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic by promising much-needed medical gloves the duo never had, the U.S. Attorney's office said.
A laboratory technician wearing medical gloves shows a suspected monkeypox sample on June 06, 2022 in Madrid, Spain. Two Houston-area men are facing federal charges after being accused of defrauding companies of $39 million at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic by promising much-needed medical gloves the duo never had, the U.S. Attorney's office said.
Caleb McCreless, 32, of Richmond allegedly told the companies he had a stockpile of in-demand nitrile gloves, with one business paying him more than $13 million for them. That cache, the U.S. Attorney's office said, never existed, and 39-year-old Christopher McGinnis of Spring allegedly served as a logistics operator and stalled deliveries when the businesses grew worried about their orders.
McGinnis is now charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, while McCreless is facing five counts of wire fraud after they were indicted on July 28. The investigation was led by the FBI and the Harris County Precinct 1 Constable's office. Healthcare professionals on the frontlines of the pandemic were expected to the never-delivered gloves, the U.S. Attorney's office said.The indictment alleges McCreless used his profits from the scheme to buy a $2 million residence in Fort Bend County, which was seized by authorities.
The two men are expected to make their initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Yvonne Ho on Wednesday. If convicted, they face up to 20 years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.
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