Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announces that David Gainer, Jr. (50, Lutz) has pleaded guilty to three counts of wire fraud. Gainer faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on each count. A sentencing date has not yet been set.
According to the plea agreement, Gainer is the former President and Treasurer of the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce (“Chamber”), an organization comprised of area merchants who paid membership dues and other funds to the Chamber to promote their businesses within the community. As President and Treasurer, Gainer had access to bank account information utilized by the Chamber to maintain its operations as well as to its funds and deposits.
Gainer devised a scheme to defraud the Chamber of funds. He used his positions as President and Treasurer to access the Chamber’s bank accounts, make unauthorized withdrawals from said accounts, deposit the misappropriated funds into accounts he controlled, and use the proceeds of such unauthorized withdrawals to pay personal bills and debts and otherwise for his own personal enrichment. Gainer fraudulently misappropriated at least $104,689 of the Chamber’s funds. He has agreed to forfeit this amount as part of his plea agreement with the government.
This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service and the Pasco Sheriff’s Office. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Maria Guzman.