Glastonbury Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Fraud Charge

A Glastonbury man has pleaded guilty to a federal fraud charge in connection with an embezzlement scheme that authorities said netted him more than $200,000 in fraudulent payments.

Connecticut U.S. Attorney Deirdre M. Daly announced Tuesday that the 53-year-old man waived his right to indictment and pleaded guilty during a Monday court appearance before U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Alker Meyer in New Haven.

Craig Larsen, of Glastonbury, pleaded guilty to one count of interstate transportation of money obtained by fraud stemming from an embezzlement scheme.

According to court documents, Larsen was employed by Maximum Human Performance (MHP), a New Jersey-based company that provided supplements for bodybuilding, strength, weight loss and fitness. In approximately November 2012, Larsen became the head of MHP’s quality control and had authority to approve bills submitted to MHP by its vendors.

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Between approximately November 2013 and February 2015, Larsen presented about 40 fraudulent invoices to MHP that falsely represented that a company he controlled, R.E.T.S., had performed quality control services for MHP when no such services had been provided.

Larsen admitted that he requested the payment of approximately $204,000 for services purportedly performed by R.E.T.S., and subsequently used his authority to approve the invoices for payment.

Larsen Meyer faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years scheduled when he is sentenced July 25, according to Daly’s office.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Susan Wines.