DIRECTV’s Loss Properly Calculated for Restitution in Fraud Case

The $372,600 in restitution a cable television installer must pay DIRECTV for defrauding it was upheld by the Seventh Circuit June 24.

Ishaihu Harmelech’s argument he shouldn’t pay anything because DIRECTV ultimately profited from his scheme was rejected in the opinion by Judge Michael J. Brennan.

From 2005 to 2010, Harmelech set up hundreds of fraudulent DIRECTV accounts in 150 buildings and pocketed a portion of the money that should have gone to DIRECTV. When Harmelech learned DIRECTV was investigating him, he shut down the scheme, and the company was only able to audit five buildings.

After Harmelech pleaded guilty ...