A Chicago man has been sentenced to 92 months in federal prison for arranging unpaid utility service at more than 2,000 properties through fake customer accounts.
David W. Brown, 56, pleaded guilty in July 2025 to a federal wire fraud charge, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois.
U.S. District Judge LaShonda A. Hunt sentenced Brown on Tuesday and ordered him to pay about $8.5 million in restitution to Commonwealth Edison, Nicor Gas, and People’s Gas.
Prosecutors said Brown fraudulently arranged electricity and natural gas service for residential and commercial properties in the Chicago area from 2017 to 2024.
The Scheme Used Fake Utility Customers
Brown offered to arrange electricity and natural gas service for property owners and tenants in exchange for fees. After finding people willing to pay him, prosecutors said, he opened new utility accounts at their addresses using false customer names and identifying information.
Federal prosecutors said Brown knew neither he nor the supposed customer intended to pay the utility companies. He also knew it could take 90 days to several months for the companies to disconnect service for nonpayment, allowing the properties to receive gas or electricity for extended periods without paying the providers.
When Service Was Being Cut Off, He Opened Another Account
The fraud did not depend on one fake account per property. Once a utility company began the process of terminating service, Brown often kept service going by opening another account at the same address under a different false customer name.
That cycle allowed unpaid service to continue while Brown collected money from the property owners and tenants receiving it. Prosecutors said Brown typically received payments ranging from $50 to $150 every few months.
The Loss Reached At Least $8.5 Million
From 2017 to 2024, Brown caused Commonwealth Edison, Nicor Gas, and People’s Gas to fraudulently provide at least $8.5 million in utility services to more than 2,000 residential and commercial properties in the Chicago area.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Rick D. Young argued in the government’s sentencing memorandum that the scheme caused significant losses to local utility providers and that Brown’s fees showed he was primarily motivated by personal benefit.
The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney Andrew S. Boutros and FBI Chicago Special Agent in Charge Douglas S. DePodesta.
Utility Account Shortcuts Can Create Bigger Trouble
The case also carries a warning for property owners and tenants. Paying someone to “fix” a utility problem, restart service, or set up an account under another person’s name can create criminal, financial, and housing consequences.
Utility service should be opened through the utility company directly, using the real customer’s name, correct address, and legitimate billing information. A person offering cheap service, no-bill service, repeated account resets, or a way around a past-due balance may be setting up fraud instead of solving the problem.