Pittsylvania County millionaire scam inmate sentenced - WSLS 10 NBC in Roanoke/Lynchburg Va

Pittsylvania County millionaire scam inmate sentenced

U.S. Attorney's Office news release

A former inmate at Green Rock Correctional Center in Chatham, Va., was sentenced this morning in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia in Danville to fraud charges.

Stanley Paul Tatum, 59, of Chatham, Va., previously waived his right to be indicted and pled guilty to a one count Information charging him with mail fraud. This afternoon in District Court, Tatum was sentenced to 41 months of Federal incarceration.

"Mr. Tatum was able to defraud numerous people and businesses from the isolation of state prison," United States Attorney Timothy J. Heaphy said today. "His long-running scheme has justly earned him to a lengthy stay in a more restrictive environment in federal prison."

According to evidence presented at previous hearings by Assistant United States Attorney Daniel Bubar, Tatum was a inmate at Green Rock Correctional Center from at least July 15, 2008 through December 9, 2008. During this time period, Tatum engaged in a fraudulent scheme in which he portrayed himself to others via the telephone, mail and personal visits, to be a millionaire.

After portraying himself as a millionaire:

• Tatum convinced individuals to send him various amounts of money in the form of United States Postal Money Orders
• He also convinced an auto dealer to release a new automobile to a friend
• Tatum also convinced Geico to create eight insurance policies for several other vehicles

In all, it is estimated that Tatum's fraudulent scheme resulted in the loss of approximately $33,211.

The investigation of the case was conducted by Special Agent Craig O'Der, Jr., Office of the Inspector General for the Virginia Department of Corrections. Assistant United States Attorney Daniel Bubar is prosecuting the case for the United States.