Asterion Forensic Analysis Assists in Acquittal
Asterion, Inc., a leading provider of financial and economic consulting services focused on forensics, valuation, and intellectual property, recently provided forensic accounting and litigation support in a white collar crime trial to Cedrone & Mancano, LLC. Stephen Scherf, CPA/CFF, CFE and Peter Salzarulo, Jr., CPA/CFF, CFE were key members of the Asterion team assisting with the case.
On January 28, 2016, following a two-week trial, Joseph D. Mancano achieved a complete victory for Patrick M. Squires when a federal court jury in Philadelphia found Mr. Squires not guilty of all charges. In the matter of Untied States v. Patrick Squires, et al., Mr. Squires, a distributor of various custodial and maintenance supplies and services, was charged with conspiring with the maintenance director of the Bristol Township (PA) School District to direct business to Mr. Squires and thereby avoid School District purchasing rules. The government accused Mr. Squires of setting up shell companies and attempting to conceal his connections with those companies that received a variety of School District work. At trial, it was established that the government investigators repeatedly ignored exculpatory evidence and avenues of investigation that, if pursued, would have established Mr. Squires’ innocence.
After five (5) hours of deliberation, the jury acquitted Mr. Squires of the conspiracy and wire fraud charges brought by the government. The School District maintenance director was also found not guilty by the jury.