Marengo County Men Sentenced to Prison for Wire Fraud Conspiracy Involving Theft of More Than $1.2 Million in Building Materials

MOBILE, AL - Two Marengo County men were sentenced to 27 months and 13 months in prison for their roles in a wire fraud conspiracy involving theft of building materials worth more than $1.2 million.

According to court documents, Bryan Keith Gracie, 40, of Demopolis, and Ellis Tyrone Miller, 35, of Dixons Mills, conspired with one another to steal building materials from a company in Thomasville between June 2021 and March 2022. To carry out the conspiracy, Gracie and Miller coordinated to provide unique delivery and shipment numbers for legitimate orders, intended for the victim company's customers, to individuals who were not authorized to accept the shipments. Thereafter, Gracie and Miller made false entries and reversals of information into the victim company's database, which communicated with servers outside of Alabama. Gracie and Miller also signed fraudulent bills of lading for shipments of stolen building materials to unauthorized third-party trucking companies.

Federal agents obtained numerous incriminating text messages between Gracie, a former employee of the victim company, and Miller, who worked at the company in a position of trust. For example, in November 2021, Miller instructed Gracie, "Wear hard hat and act like u signing in but don't put nothing down please deliver the message." In December 2021, Miller warned Gracie that an employee of the victim company had "been watching the cameras" and suggested that they should "chill for a minute." Later, in February 2022, Gracie and Miller texted each other about what each was owed for illicit sales of stolen building products. During the conspiracy, Gracie and Miller facilitated at least 54 shipments of stolen products from the victim company to unauthorized third parties. The value of the stolen materials was at least $1,213,524.16.

U.S. District Judge Kristi K. DuBose sentenced Gracie to 27 months in prison. Upon his release from prison, Gracie will serve a three-year term of supervised release, during which time he will be subject to credit restrictions and will be prohibited from being on or around the victim company's property. The court did not impose a fine, but Judge DuBose ordered Gracie to pay $100 in special assessments and $1,213,524.16 in victim restitution, jointly and severally with Miller.

For his role in the scheme, Ellis was sentenced to 13 months in prison by Chief U.S. District Judge Jeffrey U. Beaverstock. Upon his release from prison, Miller will serve a three-year term of supervised release, during which time he will be subject to credit restrictions. The court did not impose a fine, but Chief Judge Beaverstock ordered Miller to pay $100 in special assessments and $1,213,524.16 in victim restitution, jointly and severally with Gracie.

U.S. Attorney Sean P. Costello of the Southern District of Alabama made the announcement.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Thomasville Police Department, and the Montgomery Police Department investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Roller prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.