Fairfax Attorney Charged with Embezzling $1.4 Million from Virginia Senator, Canadian Business, and Autism Organization

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Fairfax attorney has been indicted by a federal grand jury for his alleged role in three fraud schemes totaling over $1.4 million in losses, including embezzling over $653,000 from Virginia State Senator Richard Saslaw’s campaign fund.

According to the indictment that was unsealed today at his initial appearance in federal court, David H. Miller, 68, of Fairfax, participated in three fraud schemes from 2011 through 2014. In the first scheme, Miller, an attorney, along with his wife, Linda Wallis, created two fake law firms, the first known as Federal Legal Associates, and the second known as The Straile Group. Miller and Wallis used the two fake law firms to fraudulently bill Miller’s employer, SkyLink Air and Logistic Support, Inc. (SkyLink), a Canadian based aviation company that maintained an office in Dulles. Miller and Wallis allegedly caused approximately $368,400 in losses to SkyLink.

The second scheme alleged in the indictment details the embezzlement of approximately $653,000 from the campaign account of Senator Saslaw. From June 2013 to September 2014, Wallis served as the treasurer of the Saslaw for State Senate campaign. During that time, Wallis issued approximately 73 fraudulent checks from the Saslaw for State Senate campaign bank account, which totaled approximately $653,000. All of the checks were issued without the knowledge or permission of Senator Saslaw or his campaign staff, and were ultimately deposited into accounts that were controlled by Miller or Wallis. Miller and Wallis used the funds embezzled from Senator Saslaw’s campaign account for personal expenses, including to pay their home mortgage and to retain a personal lawyer.

The third scheme detailed in the indictment alleges misuse of funds from a charitable organization, which Miller co-founded and for which Wallis served as the Executive Director. The organization, known as The Community College Consortium on Autism and Intellectual Disabilities (CCCAID), claimed to provide assistance to community colleges to develop programs for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Between April 2010 and April 2013, community colleges located around the country and an individual donated approximately $783,000 to CCCAID. The funds contributed to CCCAID were supposed to be used to further the mission of the organization and not to enrich Miller or Wallis. Despite these restrictions, from April 2010 to August 2014, Wallis authorized approximately $482,000 in transfers from CCCAID’s account to other bank accounts controlled by Miller and Wallis. A significant percentage of the $482,000 embezzled from CCCAID was used to pay Miller and Wallis’s personal expenses, such as mortgage payments, upgrades to an oceanfront property owned by Miller in Bethany Beach, Delaware, and travel on private aircraft from Manassas, Virginia to Montego Bay, Jamaica for a family vacation.

Miller’s co-conspirator and wife, Linda Diane Wallis, previously pleaded guilty. Wallis was sentenced to 56 months in prison on March 18, 2016.

Miller has been charged with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, conspiracy to launder monetary instruments, mail fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison if convicted. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; and Andrew W. Vale, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Uzo Asonye and Samantha Bateman are prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:17-cr-213.

An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.