Denver Couple Sentenced For Scheme That Defrauded Department of Defense Contractor

DENVER - The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Colorado announces that Kimberly Ann Tew, 43, Denver, Colorado was sentenced to 48 months in prison, and Michael Tew, 45, Denver, Colorado was sentenced to 42 months for their roles in a wire fraud scheme that defrauded National Air Cargo, a logistics company and contractor for the Department of Defense. A federal jury in Denver returned guilty verdicts against both defendants on February 15, 2024. Ms. Tew was ordered to pay a forfeiture money judgment of over $5 million, restitution in the same amount, and a $35,000 fine. Mr. Tew shares in the money judgement, restitution, and a $100,000 fine.

According to the facts established at trial, beginning in 2018, Michael Tew and Kimberly Tew conspired to defraud National Air Cargo through the submission of dozens of false invoices for services and items that were never provided. Over the course of two years, with the help of a co-conspirator, the Tews defrauded the business of five million dollars. Testimony at trial demonstrated the Tews gambled away much of the money and spent $2.4 million buying cryptocurrencies at cryptocurrency ATMs across the Denver area. Michael Tew also failed to file federal income tax returns for tax years 2016 through 2019, on both his earned income and funds obtained from the fraud scheme.

"The Tews enriched themselves by exploiting the trust of an employer, and they deserve every day of these sentences," said Acting United States Attorney for the District of Colorado Matt Kirsch. "We are grateful to our partners at IRS-CI and the FBI for their help in bringing them to justice."

"Michael and Kimberly Tew's greed and desire for a lavish lifestyle led to the judgement handed down today," said Tom Demeo, Acting Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation Denver Field Office. "These two sentences are an example of the impressive work of our special agents and law enforcement partners and reinforces the fact that financial crimes carry with them significant penalties."

"This audacious and greedy scheme defrauded a defense contractor of $5 million over several years. These criminal acts fully warrant the penalties imposed," said FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek. "The FBI remains committed to working with IRS-CI to target and bring to justice individuals engaged in such unlawful behavior."

Kimberly Tew was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Daniel D. Domenico on August 8, 2024. Michael Tew was sentenced by Judge Domenico on November 12, 2024.

IRS Criminal Investigation, and the FBI Denver Field Office conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Bryan Fields and Sarah Weiss and former Assistant United States Attorney Hetal Doshi handled the prosecution.

Case Number: 20-cr-00305-DDD