Crispian Atkins, 52, of Valrico, Florida, has been sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for masterminding a staffing and payroll fraud scheme that targeted companies across the United States. U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Hernandez Covington handed down the sentence on September 29, 2026.
Atkins pleaded guilty on May 20, 2026, to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Florida.
Scheme Details
The fraud operation ran from May 2021 through March 2024 and targeted 10 companies providing employment, payroll, and financing services. Atkins and his co-conspirators falsely claimed to have secured information technology contracts requiring staffing or financing support.
Some victim companies hired the group as temporary employees to complete the purported work. Atkins then submitted fake timesheets to prompt wire transfers for work that was never performed.
Money Movement and Proceeds
Prosecutors determined that the group moved stolen funds through multiple accounts, withdrew cash to obscure the money's origin, and divided the proceeds among participants.
Court-Ordered Penalties
In addition to the 12-year prison sentence, the court ordered Atkins to pay $3.01 million in restitution to victims and forfeit $1.56 million in criminal proceeds.
The FBI's Tampa Division and Reno office investigated the case with assistance from the Norwood Police Department in Massachusetts and the Polk County Sheriff's Office.
