Electricity Brokers Charged for Wire Fraud

Michael Mateja, 27, Matthew Morgan, 39, and Samuel Puleo, 26, have been charged by federal officials in a fraud scheme for allegedly altering previously signed contracts with commercial businesses to provide a discounted rate on their utility bills. Mateha and Puleo owned and operated Coastal Energy Consultants LLC, a company that brokered energy contracts between commercial business and energy suppliers

According to United States Attorney Zane David Memeger, Coastal Energy initially promised clients a fixed rate on its electric bill before later changing the wording on the contacts. As a result, the commercial businesses paid higher rates than expected for transmission and capacity charges despite not being notified of the contract changes.

The scheme is believed to have operated between June 2011 and February 2013.

Morgan, of Schnecksville, Pennsylvania; and Meteja, of Massachusetts, are now charged with federal wire fraud. They also face charges for obstruction of justice after allegedly trying to delete documents that were located on the Coastal Energy computer systems. If convicted, each faces a maximum possible sentence of at least 20 years in prison, three years’ supervised release, $250,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment

The case was investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David L. Axelrod.