KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Three people were sentenced in federal court Friday for their part in a wire fraud conspiracy relating to a scheme involving two women and a man hired to physically and sexually assault them.
Prosecutors said the women were hoping to force a higher settlement of their sexual harassment lawsuit against a former employer.
Julie R. Bernet, 39, of Bucyrus, Kan., 24-year-old Lindsey D. Crawford, of Kansas City, Mo., and 52-year-old Gordon F. Reabe, Jr., of Lee’s Summit, Mo., were sentenced in separate hearings before U.S. District Judge Ortrie Smith.
Bernet was sentenced to five months in a residential re-entry center, followed by five months of home confinement.
Crawford was sentenced to three years probation.
Reabe was sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison without parole.
Each of the defendants has paid more than $5,000 in restitution to the Kansas City Police Department for costs incurred during the investigation of the case.
Each of the three people pleaded guilty to their roles in the conspiracy.
Bernet and Crawford admitted that they agreed to pay Reabe $100,000 to physically assault both of them, and to sexually assault Crawford. The assault occurred Nov. 25, 2008 in the garage of Crawford’s home. Afterward, the women made false reports to law enforcement authorities about the staged assault. As a result, law enforcement authorities spend a substantial amount of time and money investigating the nonexistent crime.
Prosecutors say the purpose of the conspiracy was to fraudulently increase damages in the sexual harassment lawsuit filed by Bernet and Crawford against their former employer, Mercedes-Benz of Kansas City, as well as Soave Automotive Group, Inc., T.E.N. Investments, Inc., and Soave Enterprises, LLC.
