JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A Jacksonville man was in federal court Monday afternoon to be sentenced for defrauding Hickory Foods of more than $900,000.
David Dinsbeer, 37, pleaded guilty to 16 counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud. According to the indictment issued in March, Dinsbeer teamed up with a Hickory Foods employee, setting up fake supplying companies in order to receive payment for items never delivered.
That Hickory Foods employee was later found shot and killed.
The judge is expected to make a decision on Dinsbeer's sentence Tuesday morning.
According to the indictment, Dinsbeer conspired with a Hickory Foods executive, RH, to pull the whole thing off. Sources say RH is Richard Hollis (pictured).
The indictment says Dinsbeer used phony supplier companies, which he controlled, to bill Hickory Foods for items and supplies never delivered. It says Dinsbeer would deposit those checks and use the money to pay off Hollis and personal expenses.
In September 2012, Hollis was found dead, shot and killed while changing a tire alongside Interstate 95 in Glynn County. His killing still remains unsolved.
In court Monday, the judge only asked about Hollis' death once, and the prosecutor acknowledged RH was indeed killed in Glynn County in September 2012. After that, the prosecutor gave his argument that the complex nature of the conspiracy calls for a longer prison sentence for Dinsbeer.
The judge agreed that because of how Dinsbeer went about concealing his efforts to commit fraud, he could face additional prison time.
But when it came down to the sentencing and how much time in prison Dinsbeer will get, the judge couldn't decide Monday.
Prosecutors told the judge, "This is something that is damaging to a business. It's nearly a million dollars. I think the punishment should reflect that."
In response, Dinsbeer's defense said, "I don't think he's likely to better himself in prison."
After a long period of silence, the judge finally had this to say about the sentencing process: "It's the one thing I do that I can't go back and change my mind. I've learned not to speak until I'm ready. I know everybody wants to get the answer. I can assure you it's with deliberation in mind."