Maryland State Wire

A South Carolina man has been sentenced to 39 months in federal prison for his role in an embezzlement and identity theft scheme that caused losses exceeding $1.4 million. Robin Joseph, 64, of Murells Inlet, South Carolina, received the sentence from U.S. District Judge Stephanie A. Gallagher in Baltimore. Following his prison term, Joseph will serve three years of home detention and must pay restitution totaling $1,506,211.19.

The sentencing was announced by Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, alongside Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno of the FBI’s Baltimore Field Office.

Joseph pleaded guilty on April 25, 2025, to wire fraud conspiracy and aggravated identity theft connected to a scheme that spanned several years.

Judge Gallagher previously sentenced Valerie Joseph, Robin’s wife and co-conspirator, to 53 months in prison and one year of home detention for her involvement.

Court documents indicate that from 2003 through August 2021, Valerie Joseph worked as a bookkeeper for a wholesale greenhouse and garden center in Caroline County, Maryland—referred to as Victim Business 1—which is owned by Victim K.F. Starting no later than January 2011 until August 2021, Robin and Valerie Joseph conspired to defraud both Victim Business 1 and its owner.

The couple made unauthorized charges using three credit-card accounts tied to the business and its owner: American Express, Capital One, and Lowes/Synchrony financial accounts. Over more than a decade, they used these cards for personal purchases including over $200,000 at Walmart; more than $53,000 paid to AT&T for phone bills; upwards of $30,000 at a Japanese steakhouse; over $116,000 via PayPal; greater than $90,000 to Easton Utilities; $16,000 at Chesapeake College; $2,500 at the University of Hawaii; and nearly $3,800 on cosmetics.

They also charged more than $195,000 on the Lowes account—some purchases were used for renovating their former residence in Easton.

Other expenditures included airline tickets, cruises, Airbnb stays and hundreds of retail or gift cards bought with victim funds. More than $33,000 went toward veterinary expenses as well as items such as high-end bird cages.

Kelly O. Hayes commended the FBI’s work during the investigation: "U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI for its work in the investigation." She also acknowledged Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Riley who prosecuted the case: "Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Riley who is prosecuting the federal case."

Information about reporting fraud or learning more about priorities can be found on the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office website at https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/ as well as its community outreach page at https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.