Atlanta CEO Sentenced to Prison for $5 Million Identity Theft Scheme
In a courtroom in Atlanta, justice finally caught up with Micky Lee Wagner, a CEO with a slew of aliases that included “Clifton Leigh Wagner Martin,” “Mickey Lee Wagner,” “Leigh Wagner,” “Michy Wagner,” “Lee Wagner,” and “Dr. Leigh.” After being convicted of ***wire fraud and aggravated identity theft*** in April, Wagner has received his sentence: seven years and ten months in federal prison.
Wagner, who ran Right Step Staffing, Inc., used stolen identities to fabricate a network of lies, claiming that his Atlanta-based staffing company provided temporary workers to major businesses. The list of companies supposedly using his services included well-known names like Kroger Distribution, Material in Motion, Duracell, and Clorox. In reality, Right Step Staffing had no business with any of these companies.
The scheme didn’t stop there. Wagner struck a deal with a Florida company to purchase his staffing company’s accounts, which essentially allowed him to collect money on fabricated invoices. To make his scam more convincing, he even created fake contracts and email addresses, making it seem like they belonged to the businesses he falsely claimed were his clients. Officials say these tricks secured him over $5 million from the unsuspecting Florida company.
According to U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan, Wagner has a long history of scams. “Wagner has an extensive history of devising schemes to take advantage of unsuspecting businesses and individuals,” Buchanan said. The tireless efforts of federal law enforcement agencies, particularly the FBI, played a crucial role in achieving justice and preventing Wagner from claiming more victims.
After his indictment in 2022, Wagner tried to escape the law by fleeing to Kansas City, Missouri. He managed to stay hidden for a year before the FBI finally caught up with him. While in Kansas City, Wagner didn’t lay low. He defrauded another company out of more than $750,000 and even attempted to scam multiple other businesses.
This isn’t Wagner’s first run-in with the law. He has several prior felony convictions, including a federal fraud conviction from 2001. Given his extensive criminal record and the severity of his latest offenses, a U.S. District Court judge handed down a significant sentence.
Besides serving nearly eight years in prison, Wagner will also spend three years under supervised release after completing his sentence. Additionally, he is required to pay over $3 million in restitution to compensate for some of the financial damage he has caused.
This case underscores the importance of vigilance and diligence in the business world. Despite Wagner’s elaborate schemes and numerous aliases, the collaborative efforts of law enforcement ensured he couldn’t continue his deceitful practices indefinitely.
As we conclude, it’s worth noting that schemes like this serve as a stark reminder of how far some people will go to exploit others for financial gain. Wagner’s story is a telling example of the elaborate lengths scammers will pursue and the crucial role of persistence by law enforcement agencies in eventually bringing them to justice.
A Lesson for Businesses
Businesses are encouraged to be extra cautious when outsourcing services or making financial deals. Diligent background checks and verification processes can help prevent falling victim to such elaborate scams. Always remember, if something feels off, it’s essential to double-check all credentials and claims.
