Houston man accused of defrauding UK-based company

HOUSTON — Federal charges have been filed against a Houston man alleging he committed wire fraud by deceiving a foreign company into sending him more than $350,000.

These charges were announced by U. S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson, Southern District of Texas.  This investigation was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

The indictment was returned under seal April 29 and unsealed upon the arrest of Avery Lamarr Ayers, 48. He is expected to make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephen Wm. Smith April 30.

According to the allegations in the indictment, from about Nov. 21, 2014 through March 9, 2015, Ayers deceived a United Kingdom-based company, Impact Oil and Gas, into sending him $357,000 for a purported contractual agreement. Ayers allegedly reported to be a representative of Minas & Hidrocarbonetos-GB SARL, the legitimate company that was owed the funds from Impact Oil and Gas. The indictment alleges Ayers deceived the company and caused it to wire the $357,000 to Ayers’ Comerica Bank account in Houston.

If convicted, Ayers faces up to 20 years in prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

U.S. Attorney Suzanne Elmilady, Southern District of Texas, is prosecuting this case.

An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.