Robert W. Lederhilger III was sentenced on Mar. 10 to 73 months in prison for running a nationwide mass-mailing fraud scheme that targeted small businesses and resulted in nearly $9 million in losses, according to United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton.
The case highlights the impact of fraudulent schemes on small businesses across the country, many of which were deceived into paying fake invoices for web hosting services they never received.
According to evidence presented at trial and statements made in court, Lederhilger operated the scheme from 2015 to 2022 by sending almost three million deceptive mailers that appeared to be legitimate invoices for web hosting services. The invoices typically requested $180 from recipients, most of whom already had websites hosted by other providers. Tens of thousands of victims paid these invoices, receiving nothing but another invoice a year later. Lederhilger personally obtained at least $5.2 million through this operation.
“Robert Lederhilger stole millions of dollars from tens of thousands of small businesses, $180 at a time,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “Lederhilger thought his large scale, small sum fraud would go undetected. He was wrong. Stealing $5 million $180 at a time got him 73 months. Fraudsters like him should beware. This Office and our law enforcement partners will work to bring to justice anyone who takes advantage of the good people of New York and beyond. Today’s sentence reinforces that message.”
In addition to his prison term, Lederhilger was sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay forfeiture totaling approximately $5.2 million. Restitution will be determined at a later date.
Clayton praised the investigative efforts of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service in bringing the case forward.
