COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho — A Coeur d’Alene man, Douglas Worman, has been sentenced to nearly four years in federal prison for defrauding a forestry management company out of over $2.5 million.
Worman, 64, was sentenced to 46 months after being convicted of participating in a fraudulent scheme targeting J.S. Richards Forestry Management. The case stemmed from his role in inflating invoices for non-existent or exaggerated forestry work between 2015 and 2018.
Worman operated Worman Forest Management, a forestry company in Coeur d’Alene. In 2010, he entered into a factoring agreement with J.S. Richards, allowing his company to sell accounts receivable based on invoices for work completed. However, between 2015 and 2018, Worman submitted fraudulent invoices to J.S. Richards, falsely claiming they were for services rendered to his clients.
In the latter part of 2018, Worman submitted over $2 million in fraudulent invoices, including both inflated amounts and entirely fictitious charges. His deceptive actions ultimately resulted in J.S. Richards Forestry Management losing at least $2.5 million in funds.
According to court records, the FBI investigated the case, and Acting Special Agent in Charge Albert Kelly emphasized the importance of holding individuals accountable for financial crimes. “Douglas Worman is being held accountable for exploiting the trust of his victims,” Kelly stated. “The FBI is committed to protecting Idahoans by investigating and arresting those who seek to defraud others.”
Worman’s sentencing sends a clear message that financial fraud will not be tolerated, and federal authorities remain vigilant in pursuing individuals involved in similar crimes. The FBI encourages anyone with knowledge of potential fraud cases to report them to law enforcement.