Whitefish man pleads not guilty to wire fraud, money laundering and tax evasion charges
MISSOULA, Mont. — A 49-year-old Whitefish man pleaded not guilty in federal court on Thursday to 10 counts of felony wire fraud, money laundering and tax evasion after he allegedly conned someone into giving him more than $2.3 million to fund fake "special ops" missions overseas.
Federal authorities say Matthew Anthony Marshall, 49, told the alleged victim "he was a former CIA agent and a former member of an elite Force Reconnaissance unit in the United States Marine Corps who had engaged in covert missions around the
world." Federal authorities say Marshall never was a member of the CIA, nor was he a member of an elite Marine Corps force.
"To further execute the scheme, Marshall asked John Doe to fund 'off the books' missions for the CIA, which Marshall said would involve assault teams that he would lead on rescue and other operations in foreign countries," the federal indictment of Marshall alleges.
The victim allegedly wired Marshall money on six occasions, totaling $2,355,000.
Federal prosecutors allege that Marshall did not use the money to fund any foreign "missions," but instead spent the funds on personal living expenses, personal travel, and loans and gifts to friends and business associates.
Marshall is also accused of not paying more than $800,000 in taxes owed to the federal government for years 2013-2015.
Read the full indictment below.
