U.S. Army Financial Counselor Sentenced to 151 Months in Prison for Defrauding Gold Star Families

Press Release

Video statement by U.S. Attorney Sellinger<_o3a_p>

TRENTON, N.J. - A former Monmouth County, New Jersey, financial counselor with the United States Army who is a major in the U.S. Army Reserve was sentenced today to 151 months in prison for admitted defrauding Gold Star families and related crimes, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger announced.

Caz Craffy, aka "Carz Craffey," 41, of Colts Neck, New Jersey, pleaded guilty on April 16, 2024, before U.S. District Judge Georgette Castner to the indictment filed against him, which charged six counts of wire fraud and one count each of securities fraud, making false statements in a loan application, committing acts affecting a personal financial interest, and making false statements to a federal agency. Judge Castner imposed the sentence today in Trenton federal court.

"Caz Craffy was sentenced to prison today for brazenly taking advantage of his role as an Army financial counselor to prey upon families of our fallen service members, at their most vulnerable moment, when they were dealing with a tragedy born out of their loved one's patriotism. These Gold Star families have laid the dearest sacrifice on the altar of freedom. And they deserve our utmost respect and compassion, as well as some small measure of financial security from a grateful nation. No amount of money can undo their enormous loss. Instead of offering guidance, Caz Craffy chose to defraud these heroic families. The lengthy term of imprisonment imposed today is just punishment for this heinous and shameless crime."

U.S.. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger

"Those who prey on the family members of fallen soldiers, will be sought out and held accountable," Special Agent in Charge Joel Kirch, Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division, Northeast Field Office, said. "The hard work, long hours, and dedication of our partners within the Task Force, from the United States Attorney's Office, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, and our own investigative analyst, resulted in this investigation's swift resolution."

"Families of service members who have sacrificed their lives for our country should receive care, respect, and dignity from those assigned to help them secure survivor benefits," Principal Deputy Director James R. Ives of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), the criminal investigative arm of the DoD Office of Inspector General, said. "This outcome underscores DCIS and our law enforcement allies' unwavering dedication to ensuring that those who exploit their official roles to prey on mourning military families are held accountable."

"Craffy made a conscious decision to defraud Gold Star families suffering from losing their loved one who paid the ultimate sacrifice serving this country," FBI - Newark Special Agent in Charge James E. Dennehy said. "The money these survivors are given does nothing to ease their suffering. It does, however, help with the burdens they face, such as paying off a mortgage or putting their children through college. They believed Craffy was acting in their best interest, but instead, he was using their money as a method to make his own. Heartless and despicable don't even begin to sum up his crimes."

"The sentencing of Craffy represents the culmination of a thorough, long-term investigation that enabled us to obtain justice for the military families robbed in this case," Homeland Security Investigations Newark acting Special Agent in Charge William S. Walker said. "Craffy dishonored the Gold Star families he swore to serve and disgraced his position as an advisor to these families by seeking his own gain in illicit financial transactions. I am proud of our multiagency team of detectives, agents and prosecutors who prevailed in holding this fraudster accountable."

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

When a member of the Armed Services dies during active duty, his or her surviving beneficiary, now a member of a Gold Star family, is entitled to a $100,000 payment and the servicemember's life insurance of up to $400,000. These payments are disbursed to the beneficiary in a matter of weeks or months following the servicemember's death. To assist the beneficiaries in this time of need, the military provides a number of services to the servicemember's family, including the assistance of a financial counselor.

From November 2017 to January 2023, Craffy was a civilian employee of the U.S. Army, working as a financial counselor with the Casualty Assistance Office. He is also a major in the U.S. Army Reserve, where he has been enlisted since 2003. Craffy was responsible for providing general financial education to the surviving beneficiaries. He was prohibited from offering any personal opinions regarding the surviving beneficiary's benefits decisions. Craffy acknowledged that he was not permitted to participate personally in any government matter in which he had an outside financial interest. However, without telling the Army, Craffy simultaneously maintained outside employment with two separate financial investment firms.

Craffy used his position as an Army financial counselor to identify and target Gold Star families and other military families. He admitted to encouraging the Gold Star families to invest their survivor benefits in investment accounts that he managed in his outside, private employment. Based upon Craffy's false representations and omissions, the vast majority of the Gold Star families mistakenly believed that Craffy's management of their money was done on behalf of and with the Army's authorization.

From May 2018 to November 2022, Craffy obtained more than $9.9 million from Gold Star families to invest in accounts managed by Craffy in his private capacity. Once in control of this money, Craffy repeatedly executed trades, often without the family's authorization. These unauthorized trades earned Craffy high commissions. During the timeframe of the scheme, the Gold Star family accounts lost more than $3.7 million, while Craffy personally earned more than $1.4 million in commissions, drawn from the family accounts.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Castner sentenced Craffy to three years of supervised release and ordered forfeiture of $1.4 million. Restitution will be determined at a later date.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has a pending civil complaint against Craffy based on the same and additional conduct. Craffy has been permanently prohibited from association with any member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Inc. (FINRA).

U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited special agents of the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Kirch; special agents of DCIS, under the direction of Principal Deputy Director Ives; special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Dennehy; and special agents of Homeland Security Investigations Newark, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Walker, with the investigation leading to the indictment. He also expressed appreciation for the Securities and Exchange Commission, under the direction of Gurbir S. Grewal, Director, Division of Enforcement, and FINRA, under the direction of Head of Enforcement Bill St. Louis.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carolyn Silane of the Economic Crimes Unit in Newark and Martha K. Nye of the Criminal Division in Trenton.

Updated August 21, 2024