A federal jury deliberated for about a day before convicting Nathan Keays on two dozen charges, including money laundering and wire fraud, stemming from the embezzlement of more than $3 million from ConocoPhillips.
Updated: 34 seconds agoThe ConocoPhillips building is obscured by fog in downtown Anchorage on Friday, April 17, 2020. embezzling more than $3 million from ConocoPhillips in 2019.
Keays conspired with former ConocoPhillips employee Forrest Wright, who has since pleaded guilty to 34 federal charges and testified during Keays’ trial. TheWright’s position as a senior drilling and wells planner allowed him to negotiate and execute contracts for supplies and labor at ConocoPhillips, he told jurors during the trial.
Keays also owned a business focused on home winterization, prosecutors said during the trial. They shared a series of emails that they said showed Wright and Keays collaborating to revamp Keays’ business website so he appeared to specialize in the oil and gas industry. Wright sent Keays scripted messages to send to his ConocoPhillips email address so they could obtain contracts for materials and labor.
Phillip Weidner, Keays’ attorney, argued that Keays was duped by Wright. He said Keays believed he was subcontracting the work to Wright’s company and was shocked when he learned that none of the work had been done or the materials delivered.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Trial underway for former APD officer charged in ConocoPhillips embezzlement schemeFormer Anchorage police officer Nathan Keays is accused of partnering with a ConocoPhillips employee to steal more than $3 million from the company in 2019.
Read more »
Former head of Anchorage Health Department settles fraud suit with state for $30,000The Alaska Department of Military and Veterans Affairs brought a lawsuit against Joe Gerace after the state said it discovered he’d misrepresented his military rank and believed he received undeservedly high pay.
Read more »
Former head of Anchorage Health Department settles fraud suit with state for $30,000The Alaska Department of Military and Veterans Affairs brought a lawsuit against Joe Gerace after the state said it discovered he’d misrepresented his military rank and believed he received undeservedly high pay.
Read more »
Anchorage Mayor and Former Assembly Chair Headed to Runoff ElectionIncumbent Anchorage Mayor Dave Bronson and former Assembly Chair Suzanne LaFrance are set to compete in a runoff election next month after the first round of election results.
Read more »
Bail set at $15 million for former Anchorage correctional officer accused of killing wife and daughterNew details emerged in the deaths of Raechyl Blackshear and her 14-year-old daughter, who — just days before they were killed — had reported that she was sexually abused in their home.
Read more »
Former JEA CEO found guilty in federal fraud, conspiracy case; former CFO found not guiltyFormer JEA CEO Aaron Zahn was found guilty by a federal jury on Friday of attempting to defraud the city-owned utility.
Read more »